Editorial Content for The Disappearance of Emily H.

In the latest book from Barrie Summy, the author of the I So Don’t Do mysteries, a young girl named Raine Watson moves to a town where a girl named Emily Huvar has mysteriously disappeared. Raine sees "sparkles" on people and when she touches them, she sees their memories. It is through these memories that she tries to understand what happened to Emily H.

There are many parts that worked in THE DISAPPEARANCE OF EMILY H. I liked that the book was told in the first person and it was easy to follow the language. Additionally, the book was packed with details, which allowed me to clearly visualize the story. Raine is also a relatable and likable character, particularly because she is flawed. I think that many middle school readers will be able to relate to her.  Readers will also appreciate Raine’s complicated relationship with her mother, partially caused by her mom’s inability to see sparkles. Lastly, Summy did a good job of surprising the reader at different points in the story.  

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF EMILY H. is perfect for anyone who is in middle school and is experiencing the growing pains that it has to offer

However, I did believe that Summy’s portrayal of middle school was a bit stereotypical, particularly when it came to the mean girls. While many middle schools have one or two mean girls, I didn’t understand the motivation for their behavior.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF EMILY H. is perfect for anyone who is in middle school and is experiencing the growing pains that it has to offer, including friendship, boys, bullies and the struggle to fit in. Suspenseful, captivating and featuring a relatable main character, this story was indeed a page turner.