Hidden / Helen Frost 147 p.

Fourteen year-old Wren and Darra recognize each other when they meet face-to-face for the first time at summer camp. First Wren tells of their shared experience of her kidnapping from six years ago. For Wren, the hours drag on as she searches for a way out of Darra’s father’s garage. Darra is the only one who guesses that Wren is hidden in the garage. She leaves food and water. Each was profoundly influenced by the Wren’s kidnapping. Darra’s abusive father ends up in prison. At camp, they ignore each other until their Lifesaving exercise has them in an intense underwater encounter. Helen Frost makes use of poetic forms to tell each girl’s story. Wren’s is through free-verse with Darra’s a new form invented for this book. To get more of Darra’s story, read the last word of each of the long sentences.


2012 Notable Children's Books