cover image Wherever Nina Lies

Wherever Nina Lies

Lynn Weingarten, . . Scholastic/Point, $16.99 (320pp) ISBN 978-0-545-06631-0

Sixteen-year-old Ellie Wrigley is desperate to find her unconventional, beloved older sister, Nina, who disappeared two years ago, seemingly without a trace. When Ellie uncovers a clue in a local secondhand shop—a drawing that Ellie recognizes as Nina's work—she is determined to investigate, even without her family's support. Ellie's father left years earlier, and her mother is remarkably uninvolved: “Your sister's not missing,” Ellie's mother has told her. “She's just not here.” Without telling anyone where she is going, Ellie sets off on a cross-country chase with her new crush, Sean, who has also lost a sibling, and seems to be the only one who understands her. The cast of convenient characters also includes Ellie's gay boss at the coffee bar and her suspicious best friend. The story is largely unbelievable, however, debut author Weingarten's fast-paced, chatty style will keep readers tuned in. Ages 14–up. (Feb.)