What We Lost by Sara Zarr

What We Lost

by Sara Zarr

Hope can be hard to hold on to.

When thirteen-year-old Jody goes missing, the national spotlight turns to Samara Taylor's small town of Pineview. With few clues for investigators to follow, everyone is a suspect, including Jody's older brother, Nick. But even as the town rallies in solidarity, Sam feels more alone than ever. Her mother is drifting farther and farther away while her father grows increasingly preoccupied as he steps in to help Jody's family in the wake of the disappearance. During the tense, uncomfortable days that follow, Sam draws closer to Nick as the local tragedy intersects with her personal one.

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr delivers a powerful novel about community, family, faith, and one girl's realization that sometimes you have to lose everything to find what's been missing all along.

Reviewed by Bianca on

4 of 5 stars

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I wonder how you’re supposed to know the exact moment when there’s no more hope.


— About losing faith in everything you believed. This was such a good read, and the main character was really relatable. I was just bothered that it kind of turned into a mystery/thriller at one point, but other than that it was really good.

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  • Started reading
  • 31 October, 2017: Finished reading
  • 31 October, 2017: Reviewed