Evie and Lizzie are practically inseparable and share the things many eighth grade girls do - they go to and from school together, play field hockey and share bathing suits. As is also common between young friends, Lizzie secretly covets the life Evie has with her family. Her older, attractive sister, perfectly turned out mother and fun-loving father make a perfect unit that Lizzie longs to be a part of. She lives with her divorced mother and an older brother who is indifferent to Lizzie - her family life certainly has none of the sparkle of Evie's family. All the more reason to spend as much time as possible with Lizzie and her family. When Evie disappears, Lizzie is certainly anxious about where her friend is and who might have taken her but she also takes the opportunity to slip into Evie's family by offering any knowledge she has about Evie's disappearance. Things get bizarre once Evie is abducted and secrets get exposed one by one.
My Thoughts
Initially, this book fell flat for me. I felt it moved slowly and I had difficulty connecting with the characters. However, after finishing the book and allowing time to pass, I realize the brilliance of the book is its ability to make a reader uncomfortable and I have a new respect for it. There is a "creepiness" that pervades the story and intensifies as the search for Evie continues. There are hints of inappropriateness but nothing you can really put your finger on. For example, Evie's father talks about how beautiful her older sister is and how many boys must be after her and he encourages her to tell him all about her dates. Is he a fun, open-minded Dad or does he cross some line with his daughter? Lizzie is infatuated by Evie's Dad and as she teeters between girlhood and womanhood her feelings for him swing between innocent admiration and flirtation. My discomfort grew as the book continued and I have since been haunted by the characters and the story (I was similarly haunted by The Lovely Bones). Couple the haunting with excellent writing and you have the explanation for why a book I initially disliked is now a book I would recommend.
Have you every changed your opinion of a book after letting some time pass? Which book?
