ALA Booklist (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Brit returns to town in this sequel to Vanished (2015), and as much as she acts broken up over bestie Beth's terrible death, innocent Kalah thinks there's more to it. Brit might be crying beautiful tears, but Kalah suspects she knows something about the truth of Beth's demise, and must pretend to still be a loyal and trusting friend as she secretly investigates. The thrills come fast and fierce; Brit is an unknown quantity, capable of lies, half-truths, and possibly violence, and Kalah is stuck in the middle until she figures out her frenemy's true d possibly dangerous tives. Fans of the first book will get the conclusion they're desperate for here.

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Kalah (Vanished) is sure popular Britney killed their mutual friend--and Kalah's secret girlfriend--Beth, but no one will believe it. Though a series of unpromising leads actually turns up evidence, Brit's downfall ultimately requires a desperate act from Kalah. Satisfyingly (and chillingly), it's Kalah's turn to plot and manipulate as she seeks any exploitable cracks in sociopathic Brit's good-girl fagade.

Kirkus Reviews

There are mean girls and queen bees-and then there's Britney Matson, who makes the rest look like hopeless amateurs. This sophomore outing for Cooper picks up where Vanished (2015) left off: narrator Kalah Richards is convinced that Brit has gotten away with the murder of their mutual best friend, Beth, who was also involved in a budding romance with Kalah. Brit's wealth, poise, and "blond all-American looks" have everyone fooled, but Kalah is convinced that if only she keeps a close enough watch, Brit will slip. Unfortunately Kalah struggles with anxiety as well as grief, and her emotional fragility leads even her family and former boyfriend to regard her as unstable and untrustworthy. Brit outflanks Kalah at every turn, ratcheting the tension up to nearly unbearable levels. Kalah's ethnicity and sexual orientation are treated matter-of-factly-refreshingly not turned into causes for angst. Yet Cooper's treatment of her protagonist's South Asian heritage is disappointingly superficial, giving it passing mentions of curry, saris, Gandhi, and Hinduism. Kalah's paralysis and naiveté are frustrating at times, but they fill out a sympathetic and realistic portrait of the profound impact of bullying. While the essentials of the back story are woven skillfully into this novel and it can stand alone, it will best be appreciated by those who read Vanished. A taut thriller about a psychopath loose in the halls of a suburban high school. (Mystery. 14-18)

School Library Journal (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Gr 8 Up-This conclusion to the duology picks up right where Vanished left off: Britney has returned after being presumed dead, Beth's death has been ruled an accident, and Kalah is convinced that Britney killed Beth. Kalah spends much of the novel pretending to be Britney's best friend while secretly trying to prove her guilt. Throughout the book, Britney and Kalah's game of cat and mouse raises in stakes and pulls in other characters. Britney is determined to keep her spot at the top of the social food chain and to make another girl miserable for stealing Britney's boyfriend, Jason. Kalah's increasing paranoia and mental instability make her an unreliable narrator of the best sort for a psychological thriller similar to popular adult titles such as Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and Paula Hawkins's The Girl on the Train . Readers will be unsure if Britney is guilty or if Kalah is delusional until the very end. This title can stand alone, but those who have read the first book will get more out of Avenged . VERDICT A fine addition to a teen psychological thriller collection, especially where Vanished is popular. Cyndi Hamann, Cook Memorial Public Library District, Libertyville, IL

Voice of Youth Advocates

Avenged, the conclusion to the Vanished duology, is a suspense story about friendships, mental health issues, and love. Reading the first of the two books is not necessary since the unfolding of the plot explains the mystery of Beth's vanishing in the first novel. Narrator Kalah Richards is convinced that Brit has murdered Beth, their mutual best friend who was in a promising new romance with Kalah. Brit possesses money, gorgeous blond good looks, charm, and intelligence that ensure her popularity, but Kalah is convinced that if she remains vigilant, Brit will eventually reveal her guilt. Kalah has psychological issues stemming from anxiety, depression, and grief; after an unfortunate incident at a former school involving stalking, she sees a counselor weekly and has been prescribed medication to help her cope. Her parents and older brother (away at college) assume that she is so unstable that she cannot be trusted, and that her suspicions are groundless.Brit outsmarts Kalah again and again while the tension builds to nearly unbearable levels. The callousness and ignorance of Kalah's classmates and teachers add to the frustration she feels. Bullies often succeed because they are so skillful at manipulation, and Brit's domination of Kalah seems to remain guaranteed. The conclusion is frustrating and simplistic, but fans of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series will be fascinated by the intrigue of a suburban school's elite, "pretty" people, and their efforts to remain on top, no matter who gets in the way.Judith A. Hayn.