Maddy, age 12, lives in North Carolina with her mom and stepfather. Her father died several years ago and Maddy is still dealing with the trauma. She is hyper-vigilant about safety, going through weekly safety checks at home and has called the police when she thinks there is a problem. The sheriff told her she is like the “boy who cried wolf” and basically said not to call them anymore. Six months earlier, a boy named Billy had gone missing, ratcheting up Maddy’s anxiety levels. Now she sees a boy living in a trailer on her former friend’s property who reminds her of the missing boy. Maddy and her best friend Cress do some snooping without involving the adults because of Maddy’s past run-ins. Maddy discovers information that will change everything. What will she do with it?
I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters are very realistic and you feel for Maddy and her issues. Maddy learns that she can move on and have a relationship with her stepfather while still loving her late father. Her hyper-vigilance comes into play later in the story, which I will not spoil here. This would be a great addition for middle grade realistic fiction.
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