Vanished by E.E. Cooper (New York, Katherine Tegen Books) $18
This debut young adult novel written by a Vancouver author features an unusual heroine.
Kalah is a bisexual Indian girl with OCD who wants to be a part of the culture at her new high school. She feels a desperate need to impress Britney and Beth, two popular seniors who are best friends. Her relationship with her boyfriend, Zach, is lacklustre because she realizes she is also developing a romantic interest in Beth. When Beth disappears on her 18th birthday, Kalah is devastated and horrified to hear rumours linking Beth to Britney's boyfriend. Then Britney commits suicide and it becomes even more important to Kalah to contact Beth and discover the truth about why she left. That truth becomes very twisted when Beth finally makes contact and Kalah is in deadly danger unless she can somehow reveal the truth behind her disappearance.
A chilling and fast-paced mystery that will appeal to teen readers.
The Dogs by Allan Stratton (Toronto, Scholastic Canada) $20
Stratton, an award-winning Canadian author, has produced another well-written and haunting mystery about a mother and son on the run from an abusive father.
When they settle once again in a new town, Cameron hears rumours about an unsolved murder that happened in the old farmhouse that has become their new home. He is encouraged to delve into this decades-old tragedy when his teacher asks the class to research something local for a history project.
The juxtaposition of real and unreal events gives the story an eerie and unsettling quality. A ghostly presence, a violent and predatory father, imagined terrifyingly vicious dogs and a neighbour who appears to have some kind of connection to the murder make this a compelling read for kids aged 12 and up.
Fran Ashdown was the children's librarian at the Capilano branch of the North Vancouver District Public Library. The biggest mystery in her life is how socks lose their mates in the laundry. For more information check your local libraries.
