Me, the Missing, and the Dead by Jenny Valentine
Lucas is still coming to terms with his father’s disappearance despite the many years that have passed. If only he knew what really happened. Was he hurt, was he abducted by aliens, was he in jail and couldn’t get to a phone? Lucas tries to make excuses for his father, but the truth of the matter is he doesn’t know what happened.
Stopping for a cab early one morning he is drawn to an urn that is residing in the cab office. Who knows exactly why Lucas was drawn to the urn, but sometimes we feel connections that can’t be ignored. Once Lucas has the urn in his possession he learns that the woman inside was named Violet. Lucas feels that Violet is communication with him, in some way. And she ultimately helps Lucas tie up the loose ends of his life that happen to be very closely intertwined to hers.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Me, the Missing, and the Dead, but I did end up enjoying the book more than I initially thought I would! Lucas’s character is humorous and real. It is easy to relate to him and how is feeling. I knew exactly what it was like not to know your father. Valentine’s writing was refreshing and satisfying. The plot wasn’t too heavy but it also wasn’t just fluff, it was a nice balance of meaning and discovery. The only complaint I have is that the beginning was a little slow, but once the story picked up, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I enjoyed this book and I would love to read more by Valentine.
*Also reviewed for TeensReadToo