Stolen Children
Peg Kehret
Dutton, Sep 2008, $16.99
ISBN: 9780525478355
With her nanny of two months Darielle Monroe on vacation, due to an emergency in which her mom was rushed to the hospital with a broken leg, wealthy Elyse Edgerton hires fourteen year old Amy Nordlund to baby-sit her three years old Kendra. Amy took Mrs. Montes babysitting class as she still feels guilt from disappointing her dad when she failed to take responsibility for walking her neighbor’s dog as she had promised; his last words to her was he was ashamed of her; he died right after that last lecture in a car accident.
Two men enter the Edgerton residence using a key. They kidnap Kendra and when Amy tries to intercede they take her too. Smokey Sanderson and his Uncle Hugh send DVDs to the families demanding ransom money, but are unaware that Amy is sending secret messages to her best friend Jorja. She knows she might not make it out alive, but heeding her late dad’s advice on responsibility her first mission is to keep Kendra safe.
Targeting older elementary school children, STOLEN CHILDREN is an exciting thriller starring a fascinating cast and filled with subtle interwoven ethical lessons. Amy is a clever, brave lead protagonist as she carries guilt and shame while grieving her father’s death; she had several opportunities to escape but each would have left her infant charge alone with the kidnappers so she stays as a responsible person to try to keep the baby safe. The support cast is solid although Smokey has smoked one too many illegal substances. Peg Kehret provides an interesting fast-paced tale filled with interwoven into the plot messages to get involved when something seems off, fulfill your commitments including making up for errors as saying your sorry may be only the beginning of fair repayment, and stay calm and think during a crisis.
Harriet Klausner
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