Good and Gone

The darkly comic voice of 15-year-old Lexi Green powers this road trip adventure and navigates its serious underpinnings. The disappearance of famous musician Adrian Wilkes finally spurs Lexi’s older brother, Charlie, off the couch after dropping out of college for reasons unknown. Intending to find Wilkes, Charlie sets out from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania, bringing along Lexi and their neighbor Zach, who has a “rolling two-door wreck” to get them there. The narrative alternates between the events of their journey and “Before” sections that flash back to Lexi’s relationship and breakup with charming but manipulative Seth, a pseudofeminist with control issues. Blakemore (Very in Pieces) gradually reveals the more threatening elements of what “went down” between Lexi and Seth, as well as Charlie’s depression. The varied cast includes a personable hitchhiker named Harper, junkies who try to steal Zach’s decrepit car, and Seth’s ex, who attempted to warn Lexi about him. Strong foreshadowing hints at the truth about Seth and Lexi’s history, the lack of consequences for which is all too realistic. Ages 13–up. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Nov.)