Nick and Dara were like two peas in a pod, so different, yet so inseparable. That is, until the night of a terrible car crash which leaves Dara scarred for life and Nick crumbling under the weight of terrible guilt. Months later, the girls are barely speaking and can’t even come together with the whole town as it desperately searches for a missing little girl. When Nick joins the hunt for Madeline Snow, she uncovers a far deeper mystery. Excellently paced and beautifully written, Vanishing Girls grabs you and doesn’t let go.
Ick Factor Description
sexual exploitation of young girls
Book Review
First things first, Lauren Oliver knows how to write a hook. The openings of her books are catchy, memorable and draw you right into the story. Vanishing Girls is no different. Right from the first sentence, this book had me. I will admit I struggled a little bit a first with the fractured timeline (the story bounces around in time as well as alternating between Nick and Dara’s narration.), but after a few chapters, I found the rhythm. Once I did, I couldn’t put this one down. I particularly loved the way Oliver ratcheted up the pacing throughout the book, until at the very end, you feel like you’re in a car careening down a highway at breakneck speed. Both Nick and Dara are fully realized characters, and seeing the same story told from the completely different viewpoints of the girls makes for both great storytelling and searing accuracy for anyone who is a sister. Or a best friend. I don’t want to give too much away, even here in my spoiler friendly review, because this is a tale best read unspoiled. In the end, it’s a powerful exploration of families, grief, friendship and love. It will probably make you cry, but you won’t regret it.
