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A review by academianut
Missing Pieces by Tim Heitz, Carly Anne West
4.0
Strong writing, gripping
I wasn't expecting to like a book based on a kids ' horror game, but I wanted to understand what my students were so excited about when they talked about the game and this drew me in. The writing is so well done, the characters' full dynamic range of emotions and the uncertainty and fear not just of a spooky plot, but of the realities of life as a middle schooler - Nick is unsure of himself, lonely, worried about making friends as his family moves constantly, feeling lonely, but at the same time he's funny, enjoying fast jokes and misadventures with his new best friend, smart, figuring out lock picking and gadgets with ease, and a true friend to his troubled neighbor Aaron, determined to investigate what's wrong no matter how confusing everything gets. There's a lot of nuance in this book, a lot to explore. The end is a cliffhanger, and I can't help myself - I want to read more!
I wasn't expecting to like a book based on a kids ' horror game, but I wanted to understand what my students were so excited about when they talked about the game and this drew me in. The writing is so well done, the characters' full dynamic range of emotions and the uncertainty and fear not just of a spooky plot, but of the realities of life as a middle schooler - Nick is unsure of himself, lonely, worried about making friends as his family moves constantly, feeling lonely, but at the same time he's funny, enjoying fast jokes and misadventures with his new best friend, smart, figuring out lock picking and gadgets with ease, and a true friend to his troubled neighbor Aaron, determined to investigate what's wrong no matter how confusing everything gets. There's a lot of nuance in this book, a lot to explore. The end is a cliffhanger, and I can't help myself - I want to read more!