Splinter

Gr 8 Up—When Sami was six, her mother disappeared. Around the same time, another woman in her father's life, a secret ex-wife, also disappeared. Ten years later, a woman's remains and a passport application bring Sami's father back into a police investigation. But Sami doesn't think the body is her mother's, because Sami has been receiving postcards from her, mailed from all over the United States, for years. Sami tries to solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance while attempting to unlock memories she might have suppressed of the day her mother left. As Sami's stepmother and stepsister further distance themselves from Sami's dad after a recent divorce, Sami turns to Ryan, an old childhood friend, for comfort. Then Sami's grandmother rolls in with her RV, and Sami worries that her alcoholism will affect her father's sobriety. With new theories about what happened and new suspects, Sami struggles to hold on to the belief that her father is innocent. Astute readers might be disappointed by how easily so many clues fall into Sami's lap. Still, Dawn's skillful pacing and strong characters create a suspenseful story that will appeal to readers who like a good crime thriller.