Colleen Coble & Robin Caroll’s children’s suspense
novel, Lost and Found (Thomas Nelson),
the second installment in the Rock Harbor series, follows the turbulent life of
fourteen-year-old Emily O’Reilly. As a member of the Rock Harbor Search and
Rescue school, Emily trains her puppy Sherlock alongside her stepmom and other
adults in the community to find and rescue missing persons.
The story begins when Emily O’Reilly and her best friend
Olivia start researching Olivia’s secret adoption. This research sets in motion
a chain of events that culminates in the disappearance of Emily’s stepmom,
Naomi. Things get even more complicated when Emily’s birth mother and former criminal,
Marika, returns to Rock Harbor to become a part of Emily’s life. Between the
adoption, the disappearance, a fire at Emily’s school, and navigating her everyday
teenage life, Emily struggles to balance everything and find a happy ending. Lost and Found is an adventure filled
with intrigue and mystery that will thrill younger readers.
One of the
writing duo’s strengths is their ability to write suspense and mystery. As
Emily tries to piece together what’s happening—how to find Naomi and the truth
about Olivia’s adoption—Coble and Caroll pace their writing so Emily uncovers
clues bit by bit, keeping readers engaged and invested in solving the mystery
themselves. Coble and Caroll ratchet up the tension while balancing each
crisis—readers care about Emily’s myriad troubles but can focus on each event
without becoming overwhelmed. And despite the chilling nature of the novel, the
authors manage to avoid despair to create a hopeful, positive reading
experience.
A major part
of this positive experience is Emily’s faith in God. In the face of her
troubles, Emily turns to God and relies on her faith to carry her through each
crisis. Coble and Caroll include short prayers in each chapter that Emily prays
throughout her day, genuine cries for help that resonate as the faith of a
young girl. When she turns to her friends and family, they give her valuable wisdom
and advice about faith that uplifts readers. When Emily’s stepmom goes missing,
Emily’s dad tries to keep the family intact through prayer, but openly admits
that he doesn’t have all the answers. Likewise, Emily struggles with doing the
right thing, such as forgiving her birth mother and “snitching” on a popular
senior at school. Despite her struggles, Emily makes good choices and seeks
forgiveness when she makes mistakes, and is a positive role model for pre-teens.
Coble and
Caroll’s prose is simple, easy to read, and would be suitable for younger
readers. The third-person narration blends with Emily’s voice at times, revealing
her perspective, commentary, and brief prayers in response to the unfolding events.
The characters are likable—Emily and her family and friends are a living,
breathing community. Young readers will relate to Emily’s struggles to obey her
parents and do the right thing, as well as her innate curiosity and desire to
get to the bottom of things.
Lost
and Found is a
great choice for kids or young adults who want a suspenseful, thrilling plot
and parents who want positive, encouraging themes.
FamilyFiction’s book reviewing intern, Niki, is a third-year English major at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. She's a fan of reading, writing, drinking tea, and cats.