Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108998 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Missing is about a family torn apart. A gritty novel, both suspenseful and stylishly written, it tells how a school bully's actions force a troubled teenager to run away, leaving his younger sister to cope with grieving parents in a house devoid of love or hope for the future. She is misunderstood and alone--despite all of the voices around her claiming they understand and that they want to help.

Maxine Moody's world was turned upside down when her older brother Derek went missing. Ten months later he is presumed dead--but that has not stopped Maxine's parents from hoping that he will be found alive. While they investigate possible sightings of their missing son, Maxine is packed off to stay with relatives. She feels unwanted and unloved. She harbours guilty feelings of resentment for Derek's disappearence and plays truant from school--a place where she has few friends and several enemies. There seems no way out for Maxine until a body is discovered in London, dressed in the clothes Derek was wearing when he was last sighted. Can Maxine's pain and confusion be finally over?

Missing, however, is never that simple and underneath the bleak subjects at its core lies a compelling examination of what it means to love somebody--and what it might feel like to be unloved. Many lives are affected by Derek's actions. All are laid bare and examined. It's a highly readable, honest and mature novel that should be a part of growing up for everybody. (Age 12 and over) --John McLay

Synopsis
Age range: 12+ Maxine's parents have had to do perhaps the worst possible thing: confirm the identity of her brother Derek's body by the clothes he was wearing when he disappeared. So the brother who was missing is now officially dead. But then the worst possible thing really happens: Maxine receives a telephone call from somebody saying he is her brother. She can hardly believe her ears. Has Derek come back from the dead? In this pacy thriller the author manages to confront many issues including: how different people deal with grief/the very under-rated effect of severe bullying at school/sibling rivalry - all in a fast-paced compelling narrative voice.

Customer Reviews

THIS BOOK IS BRILL
MAXINE REALLY HATES HER BROTHER LIKE MOST OF US, BUT WHEN HE GOES MISSING AND HAR FAMILY THINK DEREK IS DEAD SHE DOESN'T REALLY CARE. SADLY HER MUM AND DAD ARE IGNORING HER. THEY ARE TO BUSY SORTING OUT MAXINES BROTHER DEREKS THINGS. THEN ONE DAY MAXINE GATS A PHONE CALL AND THE VOICE SOUNDS LIKE DEREK, MAXINE THINKS IT IT IS SOMEONE PLAYING A PRANK ON HER BUT SHE COULDN'T THINK OF ANYONE WHO WAS SICK ENOUGH TO DO THIS... THIS BOOK IS GREAT AND IT IS SO LIFE LIKE, YOU NEED TO READ IT

a really good book to read if you are a teen
its areally good book with a well written storyline ,i finished reading it today,the same day i started it!

Very griping and emotional
I thought this book was excellent. I read it in 4 days. It is the type of book you can read and not want to put down. Anyone who likes a storyline where you dont find out what is really going on till the end~this book is for you! read and enjoy, i did.