The Vanishing Season
Teen romance, ghost mix in serial-killer/coming-of-age tale.
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that there's a serial killer on the loose in The Vanishing Season, preying on teenage girls and terrifying the townsfolk in a woodsy community on the shores of Lake Michigan. Teen couples kiss passionately, sleep in the same bed, and enjoy swims and saunas together in various states of undress, but if they have sex, it's never explicitly stated. There's no gore and little really troublesome material in this genre mash-up: part teen romance, part coming-of-age tale, part murder mystery. And -- oh, yeah -- there's a ghost, too. Popular author Jodi Lynn Anderson presents misdirection galore as the story unfolds. Some readers will be reaching for the tissues, and others will be screaming, "WHAT???"
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
High school senior Maggie Larsen, currently homeschooled, is working hard at not being high-maintenance for her parents as the family goes through major life changes. Formerly a highly paid bank executive in Chicago, her mom has been forced to take the only job she could find, in a small Wisconsin town on the shores of Lake Michigan. To studious, driven Maggie, it's only a bump in the road until she gets to college, lands a high-paying job, and never leaves the city again. But soon Maggie and her parents have new things to worry about, starting with the serial killer who's murdering local teen girls and terrifying the town. Maggie makes new friends in her neighbors, rich-girl Pauline and poor-boy Liam, who've been inseparable pals since childhood, leading to a complex relationship. Meanwhile, a nameless ghost whose relationship to all this isn't clear -- even to itself -- hovers over the action.
Is It Any Good?
This won’t be every teen girl's dish, but the mix of heartfelt teen romance, ghost story, serial-killer saga, coming-of-age tale, and lurking tragedy will find an appreciative audience.
Red herrings abound, the plot threads converge uneasily at times, and the characters are often straight out of central casting. But author Jodi Lynn Anderson gives Maggie, Pauline, and Liam enough resonance with real adolescent concerns (from star-crossed love to worrying about college) to make readers care about them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why tales of killers in the woods are so popular. What's the appeal? How does this story compare with other killer-on-the-loose stories you know?
Do you think you'd prefer living in a small town in the woods to being a city dweller? Does this story make you feel any differently about it?
Do you think the ending should have tied up all the plot elements differently? If so, write the ending you'd like better.
Book Details
- Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Friendship, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harper
- Publication date: July 15, 2014
- Number of pages: 272
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 2, 2015
Our Editors Recommend
-
Confessions of a Murder Suspect
Teen must prove she didn't kill parents in taut thriller.
-
Something Like Fate
Easy read about the difficulties of love and friendship.
-
First Knight
Hokey, star-studded take on King Arthur legend.
For kids who love ghost stories and teen romance
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate