Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 05/01/2019 Kira has few memories of her early life. The strongest one is of the moment she was found in the woods by Silver, a search-and-rescue German shepherd, and Cady Bennett, her handler. Though aging, Silver still looks out for Kira, now a teenager living with Cady and the rest of her adopted family and training a dog of her own. Then Cady's estranged father shows up: a girl has gone missing in the wilderness, and he needs help. As the search intensifies, it becomes clear that the girl is not just missing, she was taken—and if Kira is going to be any help at all, she'll have to control the traumatic memories this search is unearthing for her. Barnes smartly maps the psychological landscape of a girl working through her early-life trauma, which makes this mystery, seen through Kira's eyes, layered and compelling. The wilderness survival component ups the stakes, and for animal-loving teens, the dogs add an intriguing and little-seen element. A moody, gripping puzzle. - Copyright 2019 Booklist. School Library Journal - 06/14/2019 Gr 7 Up-Kira's adopted mom, Cady, is famous in the world of search-and-rescue, and Kira herself is a rising star. So when Cady's estranged father shows up to beg for his daughter's help finding a missing girl, Cady feels obligated. Kira, her foster brother Jude, their friend Free, and the dogs they train pack up and head to Cady's hometown where it appears that everyone is hiding a secret, especially a boy who seems to know much more than he is willing to share. As time passes and the search becomes more desperate, Kira finds herself battling painful memories of when she was a child lost in the woods. Barnes sensitively addresses Kira's childhood trauma, as well as her resulting anxiety. In addition, thoughtful research into the world of search-and-rescue will leave animal lovers in awe of the canine heroes in this book, and the twist-heavy, suspenseful plot will keep reluctant readers tuned in. However, Kira's first-person exposition at the beginning of the book leaves many of the characters underdeveloped. VERDICT Purchase where Barnes's "Naturals" series is popular.-Leighanne Law, Scriber Lake High School, WA - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. School Library Journal - 06/14/2019 - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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