Me, the Missing, and the Dead - by Jenny Valentine (Paperback)

About the Book

Lucas Swain is almost 16 years old and lives in London. He was fairly normal until the night he finds Violet--in an urn. Also, his dad vanished five years ago. Lucas swears Violet is trying to tell him something about his dad.

Book Synopsis

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. . . .

I may have met Violet after she died. But it didn't stop me from getting to know her. . . .

Review Quotes

"Compulsively readable. A memorable new voice." -- Publishers Weekly (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)

"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)

"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

"Charmingly told, this mystery manages to be both frothy and nourishing." -- Kirkus Reviews