Voice of Youth Advocates

When popular, happy Lizzie Lovett goes missing, seventeen-year-old Hawthorn imagines that Lizzie is transitioning into a werewolf. With jealousy cloaked in fantasy, Hawthorn takes Lizzie's former job and starts hanging around Lizzie's twenty-something boyfriend, under the guise of investigating what happened to Lizzie. Hawthorn discovers that Lizzie's high-school star boyfriend has a pathetic post-graduation life. Hawthorn's obsession over Lizzie allows her to hide from school bullies who harass her about her appearance, her wild ideas, and her mother's wanna-be hippie lifestyle. Her popular brother, his friend, and Hawthorne's one good friend criticize and support her throughout her journey, hoping that she will eventually stand up for herself and develop realistic relationships.Following Hawthorn through four hundred pages of teen angst is a disjointed journey filled with jumbled details that muddy the plot and purpose. Losing her virginity to a twenty-something directionless boyfriend is but one irritating part of several bad days. Hawthorn expresses great compassion for the dead Lizzie she never liked, but the search for clues goes nowhere. Perhaps Hawthorne learns about herself, and her desire for more excitement, more adventure, in her life. In the final, rather didactic but light-hearted paragraphs, Hawthorn sums up what she has learned; she promises to see magic, not create it, but she does not have a clear path forward to success. This coming-of-age/mystery novel is character-driven and very light on action. Consider it an additional purchase for most libraries.Lucy Schall.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

At 17, Hawthorn Creely is only four years younger than Lizzie Lovett, a local woman who has gone missing from a nearby campsite. Hawthorn, still holding a grudge after being dismissed by Lizzie years earlier, becomes fixated on the older girl-s life since high school. Under the guise of investigating her paranormal theory behind Lizzie-s disappearance, Hawthorn befriends Lizzie-s boyfriend, begins waitressing at the diner where she worked, and visits places Lizzie frequented. But Hawthorn-s true motivation often seems to meander from the missing woman: -Maybe, if I showed the world that werewolves existed, people would stop asking me about my plans for the future. No one would care about the future, because I would have already proven myself, accomplished something great.- Hawthorn is self-involved, shortsighted, and often selfish, but Sedoti deftly pulls readers into her head where her yearning for excitement, angst about the future, and insecurity bring further depth to her character. Hawthorn and Lizzie both emerge as surprising, intricate characters whose stories are resonant and memorable. Ages 14-up. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary & Media. (Jan.)

Kirkus Reviews

Hawthorn Creely always hated Lizzie Lovett, so why is she distraught when Lizzie goes missing in this seamless blend of mystery and relationship fiction?Nothing big ever happens in small-town, blue-collar Griffin Mills (45 minutes from Pittsburgh), until once-popular Lizzie Lovett disappears while camping with her boyfriend. High school senior Hawthorn (named by her flower-child mother) knew Lizzie when she was a freshman and Lizzie was a senior dating her older brother. Hawthorn, ever the outsider, envied Lizzie's happiness, but when she begins to learn tidbits about Lizzie's much-different life after high school, she becomes obsessed with finding out more and even trying to find her. She turns to Lorenzo Calvetti, Lizzie's boyfriend at the time of her disappearance (even though he could be her killer since…gulp, murder hasn't been ruled out), to help collect clues and solve the mystery. In yet another Gone Girl variation, the story is less about the twists and more about the search. But Hawthorn's search for Lizzie turns into a search for self as she yearns for adventure and love (and sex?). Adding to the seemingly all-white cast of characters, authentic given the setting, are an old friend, bullies, and a caravan of hippies, who offer more struggles and wisdom. Hawthorn tells it all with a realistic voice. A solid coming-of-age novel with light spunk and individuality. (Fiction. 14-18)

School Library Journal (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 9 Up-Lonely misfit high school senior Hawthorn Creely finds respite from pressure at school and at home by searching for a missing student: popular Lizzie Lovett. There are no clues, burning secrets, or great reveals surrounding Lizzie's disappearance. Instead, Hawthorn's wildly creative imagination and humor drive this mystery's plot forward. In a somewhat disturbing turn of events, she steps into Lizzie's life, taking the missing girl's old job and becoming involved with her boyfriend, Enzo. Hawthorn's insecurities and eventual self-discovery comprise the central themes of the novel as she navigates dates, dances, mean girls, and social isolation. Ultimately, Sundog, a visiting hippie, gives Hawthorn sensible spiritual guidance: "Some people are born knowing their paths from the start. The rest of us take a while to get there." Sage advice indeed. Some readers may be put off by the lack of a traditional whodunit story line as well as by Hawthorn's sometimes odd responses to situations, while other readers may find her eccentricities refreshingly honest and recognize an authentic teen voice. Some mature situations, including sex and drinking, are woven throughout. VERDICT Recommended for teens who appreciate a protagonist with a lively imagination and an acerbic tongue. Eva Thaler-Sroussi, Glencoe Public Library, IL

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

When Lizzie Lovett goes missing, Hawthorn becomes obsessed w could something bad happen to beautiful, popular Lizzie, who always seemed immune to pain? Hawthorn, who's always coveted Lizzie's seemingly easy existence, goes to desperate, nearly crazy lengths to explain her disappearance, and in the process of her investigation, she befriends Lizzie's 25-year-old boyfriend, Enzo, who indulges her bizarre quest (more than he should) and makes Hawthorn feel like less of an outsider. But she becomes so caught up in her search that she finds herself even more alienated, and when the truth finally comes out, Hawthorn is forced to examine her own choices. Sedoti's debut offers an enlightening look at the dangers of relying on outward appearances to judge someone's character, and Hawthorn's first-person narrative, filled with obsessive thoughts and, eventually, meaningful reflection, is a lively, engaging vehicle for the story. A rich cast of secondary characters, including Hawthorn's family and a caravan of hippies camping in her backyard, adds depth. Fans of character-driven novels will appreciate this.

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

Eccentric seventeen-year-old Hawthorn claims not to care about social hierarchies. But when Lizzie Lovett, a popular former classmate, goes missing, Hawthorn becomes more and more fascinated with Lizzie and starts investigating. Hawthorn's offbeat sensibility and matter-of-fact voice feel fresh, but with her lack of self-awareness--and an inscrutable fixation on the supernatural--she's not always endearing.