Told from Cristian’s point of view, intercut by secret police memos and Cristian’s own poetry, the novel crackles with energy Cristian and his friends join the groundswell of young Romanians, combining pragmatism, subterfuge, hope, and daring. Sepetys brilliantly blends a staggering amount of research with heart, craft, and insight in a way very few writers can. But as young Romanians gradually become aware that other countries have gained freedom from communism, they rise up in an unconquerable wave. When an agent confronts Cristian with evidence of treason-a single dollar bill tucked inside his notebook-and also offers medicine for Bunu, his sick grandfather, Cristian agrees to spy on the American diplomat family whose son he’s become friendly with. Wild dogs attack children in the streets, and secret agents are everywhere. Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu has been in power for 24 years, and most Romanians live in poverty, exporting what they produce to unknowingly fund Ceaușescu’s obscenely extravagant lifestyle. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu, with his spiky hair, love of poetry and English, and crush on Liliana Pavel, is as much of a rebel as it’s possible to be in Bucharest, Romania, in 1989. Still, Gabie and Drew’s budding relationship is believable, and it has a strong wingding climax followed by a feel-good ending.Ī rare look at the youth-led rebellion that toppled Romania’s Ceaușescu. The police seem amazingly obtuse, Gabie’s belief that Kayla is alive is given no realistic, clue-based hook and the third quarter has some pacing problems. Interspersed with the kids’ and perpetrator’s first-person accounts are police reports, 911 transcripts, webpages, interviews, etc., which add interest and texture to what otherwise would be a straight genre tale. The thriller is narrated using a collage technique. Who was the man what happened to Kayla why did he ask about Gabie and, as time begins to pass, is Kayla still alive? Neither Drew nor Gabie, who go to the same high school as Kayla but are work rather than social friends, knows anything, but they are determined to find out. When Kayla doesn’t return, Drew calls the police and the mystery kicks in.

When a popular high-school girl disappears while delivering pizza at her part-time job, her two fellow employees and classmates try to figure out what happened.ĭrew Lyle takes the call, Kayla Cutler delivers the pizza, but the man ordering it wants to know if the girl who drives the Mini Cooper-that’s Gabie Klug-will be the delivery girl.

The night she disappeared book review