Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen searches for missing roommate in riveting novel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE begins, 17-year-old Sade arrives at a prestigious boarding school after the death of her father. Within days, her roommate, Elizabeth, disappears. The school seems not to treat the situation with much urgency, so Sade teams up with Elizabeth's friend to solve the mystery and bring Elizabeth back safe.
Is It Any Good?
A thrilling and tightly written novel. In Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, the author improves upon the winning formula that made her previous book, Ace of Spades, a success. Realistic, complex characters populate a setting that comes across as simultaneously modern and Gothic. Whereas the previous book dealt with racial strife, this one (according to the author's note) takes on female rage. This is recommended for mature readers, as the content includes suicide, murder, deep trauma responses (such as hallucinations), and sexual assault.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Where Sleeping Girls Lie handles the topic of how to process trauma. What are the different ways, healthy and unhealthy, that people can heal after tragedy, shock, or harm? How can courageous action help a person recover from painful experiences?
Talk about the theme of uncomfortable alliances in Where Sleeping Girls Lie. How do you cultivate teamwork with people you don't like or don't yet trust?
How does curiosity help characters make decisions when they lack information? Has your curiosity ever helped you face the unknown?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Feiwel & Friends
- Publication date : March 19, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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