Gone for Good: The addictive missing girl thriller where everyone has something to hide

A novel by Sarah Crossan cannot be anything other than brilliant and true to form, her latest verse novel is another triumph. Connie is angry and confused when she is dragged from her bed in the middle of the night and taken to some sort of correctional institution in a remote American location. She is even more bewildered when she discovers that her father has requested it. Torn between trying to leave and making friends with others imprisoned like her, Connie quickly realises that something is very badly wrong at Silver Lake and that another girl has gone missing.

I really enjoyed Gone for Good. It will appeal to fans of the popular school crime genre (Holly Jackson. Karen M McManus) and more dystopian titles such as Happy Head by Josh Silver. The theme of grief and loss is woven throughout the story, tackling the subject of parental death, as well as removal from a familiar and comfortable lifestyle. Connie and her new friends show resilience when faced with adversity which, when written is verse, makes for a deep emotional impact. Time-poor readers will also appreciate the verse novel format which carries you to the end so much faster than when written in prose, although such is the quality of the book, I really didn't want it to end.

416 pages / Reviewed by Rachel Bolton

Suggested Reading Age 14+

Taken from her home in the middle of the night, Connie finds herself at Silver Lake Academy, a high-security facility for 'troubled' teens. Although deeply upset by the loss of her mother and struggling to cope, Connie still cannot believe that her family would choose to send her to this remote and prison-like location. Learning that she is sleeping in the bed of a missing girl called Belle, leads Connie deep into a web of intrigue and lies as she tries to discover what has happened.

Writing a verse novel which packs a punch is a real skill and Gone for Good is a great example of this. The appalling conditions of Silver Lake Academy, the depth of emotion experienced by different characters and the mystery of the missing girl are all skilfully conveyed through carefully chosen words. Minimal text might make the book a quicker read, but none of the poignancy or depth of the story is lost. Connie is a very interesting and carefully observed character. A 'sayer' who cannot help but speak her mind, she is ill-suited to the tight rules of Silver Lake, but is determined to find out what has happened to Belle, whose story is interwoven through that of Connie's as the book progresses.

Connie's strength of character, determination and kind heart make her a very appealing personality, easy to relate to and empathise with. The book raises many questions about how different personalities cope with different situations and the consequences that can come from others misinterpreting their actions. Connie's father obviously believes that he is doing his best to support his daughter, wanting to help her, and yet, it is clear that an institution like Silver Lake is the last place that she - or anyone else - should be.

To solve the mystery of Belle's disappearance, readers must follow a twisting trail of clues and red-herrings until the truth is uncovered. A gripping and satisfying read, Gone for Good is a real page-turner! One not to miss!

416 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 14+