The Missing Book 1: Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Wow. This book was pretty good. I wasn't really expecting anything when I opened this. The book fair rep sent it to me so that I could preview it and book talk it before the fair. I'm still trying to figure out a good way to book talk it without giving anything away! At the end of the first 10 pages, there's quite a kicker. I immediately took the book to another teacher and said, "Read the page ten." She shook herself after she read it and said, "Creepy."

The descriptions that jump into my head right away are "Lost" and "Quantum Leap". (Remember that show?) So I can definitely say this is Science Fiction. But I was a tad surprised with the direction the book took at the end. I expected more of the "backstory" to the mystery to be dragged out and have that be the focus of the series. Clearly, the series is going to continue with the backstory still there intact, but the main characters having varied adventures.

I'm not describing this book very well, but I don't want to give anything away! It was very good, but I felt the writing was a little forced at the end of the book. Haddix was trying too hard to wrap up the backstory before the end of the book. Since this is a series, she could have left a few of the questions unanswered in this book and come up with better explanations for them in the second book. But all in all, this was a great read and the kids will really enjoy it.