Review
"Valentine sets in motion a dark comedy. The mystery that unravels...will keep readers entertained." (Horn Book Magazine )
"An impressive debut. Valentine offers a rich cast of characters and marvelous writing." (Buffalo News )
"Part mystery, part magical realism, part story of personal growth, and in large part simply about a funny teenager making light of his and his family's pain, this short novel is engaging from start to finish." (School Library Journal (starred review) )
"Lucas' pitch-perfect voice and authentic family relationships, the mild psychic element, and the poignant, coming-of-age mystery will stay with the reader long after the book ends. Valentine's debut novel shines richly." (ALA Booklist (starred review) )
"Charmingly told, this mystery manages to be both frothy and nourishing." (Kirkus Reviews )
"Compulsively readable. A memorable new voice." (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )
Product Description
Me: Lucas Swain—I'm nearly sixteen years old and live in London. I was fairly normal until the night I found Violet. Then everything changed.
The Missing: Dad. He disappeared five years ago. Nobody knows what happened to him, and nobody cares except me. It's enough to drive you crazy.
The Dead: That's Violet . . . in the urn. Speaking of crazy—I know she's trying to tell me something, and I think it's about my father. . . .
A dead lady may not be much to go on, but my dad's out there somewhere, and it's up to me to find out where.