One Was Lost

by Natalie D Richards

[Linda]

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Books like One Was Lost is one of the reasons why I'm terrified of camping in the woods! (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it...)



One Was Lost follows a group of teens as they are on a school trip in the forest, where they have to survive with the means they have with them. We get to know Sera better than her school mates, as the story is told from her perspective. And one of the themes in this story really has to do with perception and perspective! What do we think of other people, and what do we base our "judgement" of them on? One day, at the beginning of their trip, the weather is getting much worse, and not all of them manage to cross the river. The main teacher, Sera and three other kids have crossed, while the teacher assistant and two girls are on the other side. Because of the rapidly rising water, they have to go to higher ground before they start setting up their tent before it gets dark.

And from then on, One Was Lost becomes spooky, scary and more than a little disturbing. The first morning after the group was separated, the kids all feel strange, and the sun has been up for a while already. And it's impossible to wake the teacher! There is mystery, memories of the creepy story the teacher's assistant told at camp fire the first night, and very weird things happening. Sera and the three other students have to either trust each other or separate, as more strange things happen, and they think they are all being drugged somehow, as they wake up to weird voodoo like dolls, more water, and strange sounds.

One Was Lost is the perfect creepy fall read! I never knew what would happen next, and I was at the edge of my seat with the mystery and the suspense! Since it's written in first present present tense, I felt like I was right there next to Sera, feeling her doubts and fears.



Everyone's tall measured against me, but Lucas is ridiculous. He towers. If there was actually a sun to be found int his Appalachian monsoon, his shoulder would cast a shadow you could hide two of me in. I have no idea what you have to eat to grow like that. Corn? Eggs? Small children?

The forest around us mocks my misery on every level. It's like the whole place has gone Disney. Birds trill softly, and sunbeams slant through leaves just this side of golden. Everything smells fresh and earthy and warm. Well, everything but us. I've met hockey bags that smell better than we do.