Found: The Missing, Book 1

This is a catchy, very fun read, likely to appeal even to non-enthusiastic readers. And it has little violence, and some nice characters and family relationships! There's a good relationship between Jonah (adopted) and his (non-adopted) younger sister, Katherine, who has her own important role in the story. And Jonah's parents are presented as loving, concerned, conscientious parents -- though of course they're left in the dark about much of what Jonah is doing -- standard for kid stories as if the parents knew the full details, they'd never let the kids have the adventures! There's a vein of humor where despite Jonah's "Aww, Mom!" teenage reaction to his parents' shelf of books with titles like "Raising the Well-Adjusted Adopted Child", he repeatedly finds himself parroting that same material to his friend Chip who had been left in the dark about his own adoption. (Parents might want to be aware that Chip, with Jonah's help, opens up his parents' home safe to get into their papers to try to find out more about his own adoption -- might want to talk about that aspect of the book with your own kids.) I also very much like the scene where Jonah's parents help him talk with an FBI agent who may know some secrets about Jonah's background: when the FBI agent tries to intimidate them into dropping the investigation, with threatening implications about the legality of Jonah's adoption and immigration status, Jonah's upset parents politely but bravely and firmly resist intimidation. And Jonah's father subsequently tells Jonah, "That man has evidently forgotten he's supposed to be a servant of the people...". I also find the central conceit of the plot rather touching in a way, reminding me of John Varley's "Air Raid" story/"Millenium" novel. Towards the end, Jonah has to make his own choice about what is right, while two groups of adults are trying to persuade him. I'm eager to see where the rest of the series goes! I'd recommend for ages 9 and up, due to the intensity and suspense.