ellieroth
Written on Feb 3, 2015
CCBC’s Best Books for Kids & Teens (Fall 2015) - Commended
Fifteen-year-old Edie Fraser searches for her mother, who has gone missing shortly after the two moved to London, England, to escape Edie’s abusive father.
Is it possible to outrun your past? Fifteen-year-old Edie Fraser and her mother, Sydney, have been trying to do just that for five years. Now, things have gone from bad to worse. Not only has Edie had to move to another new school — she’s in a different country.
Sydney promises her that this is their chance at a fresh start, and Edie does her best to adjust to life in London, England, despite being targeted by the school bully. But when Sydney goes out to work the night shift and doesn’t come home, Edie is terrified that the past has finally caught up with them.
Alone in a strange country, Edie is afraid to call the police for fear that she’ll be sent back to her abusive father. Determined to find her mother but with no idea where to start, she must now face the most difficult decision of her life.
- ISBN10 1459728181
- ISBN13 9781459728189
- Publish Date 2 April 2015 (first published 19 December 2014)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country CA
- Imprint Dundurn Group Ltd
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 224
- Language English
- URL http://dundurn.com/books/youve_been_gone
Reviews
Kim Deister
Written on Jan 24, 2015
I thought that Edie's character as a survivor of domestic abuse was well developed. Some of the choices she made after her mother's disappearance seem stupid on the surface, but they are in keeping with someone who is used to hiding and running. She has no trust in anyone, but her desperate need to have roots and to trust leads her to Jermaine.
The only true complete complaint I have is that I wish it had been longer. The story was so good and had such bones. I just felt that some of the issues could have been more developed and explored. Edie's anger was such an integral part of who she was and I would have liked to see more about that. Then there was the issue of racism that came up during a scene with Jermaine and that had proise, too.
My Recommendation: I like that the story talked about real issues and I loved that the ending was not the typical conclusion. A good read!
lindsey
Written on Dec 28, 2014
This was an extremely quick read. I was able to read the entire book in just a few hours. It was very fast-paced, and there were few dull moments. That being said, it didn't seem like much actually happened.
Edie and her mother have been moving from place to place for the past five years. Every time Edie thinks they might be able to settle down, her abusive father finds them, and they have to run again. Her mother decides to move from Canada to London, thinking that would be enough for her father to lose their trail.
Starting a new school is tough enough, but add in the fact that Edie has an accent and doesn't really understand some of the phrases and customs, and it goes downhill quickly. She is bullied on her first day, and her homeroom teacher seems to already dislike her. To make matters worse, her mother never returns home after her first shift at her new job. Edie is sure her father has something to do with it, and is determined to find her before it's too late.
I struggled with rating this one. It definitely wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't amazing, either. The plot was promising, and while it was intriguing, I never felt like it lived up to its potential. It was well-written, however, and while the characters weren't flat, they could have been fleshed out just a little more. I think I would have enjoyed this more if it had been a little longer. It felt rushed at the end, and I think even a few more chapters would have helped the characters.
In conclusion, I feel this was a very promising book that just fell a little short.