I wanted to like Lost and Found---I really did. The entire Blueford series is wildly popular with teens and I loved The Bully, one of the Bluford boy books, but i was disappointed with Schraff's work. HIghschool student, Darcy Willis, has some problems. Her Dad abandoned the family and hasn't been seen in years, her mother struggles financially and works very long hours as a nurse to make ends meet; she is tired and distracted. Darcy's grandmother had a stroke and now lives with them--paralyzed and unable to talk--needing constant care. and Darcy's younger sister, Jamee, deals with her issues by shutting down emotionally, pushing away everyone who loves her, and acting out at home and in school with lots of at risk behavior. Darcy is smart and studies hard and does well academically, but she is lonely and doesn't make friends easily and acts superior to her peers--partially to hide her shyness. Things get mysterious and even ominous when, for a class project, Darcy is paired with 2 students with bad reputations. A stranger begins to follow her and then her sister disappears. Darcy must put the pieces together to save herself and her family.
The book, like the others in the series, has lots to recommend it--relatively short, easy middle reader with Black characters and urban settings and typical kid problems and situations--Darcy's life seems very real to me. The problem with Lost and Found, i thought, was not only the predicable ending, but also that it sends a poor message to girls; Darcy learns that if you stop being stuck up and stop thinking that you are better than your lower achieving peers, then a boy and his male friends will beat up a male bully who is threatening you, and your father will comeback into your life and save your sister. i was really disappointed --especially since i really loved The Bully and it's very positive and realistic storyline. Unfortunately, i cannot say the same for Lost and Found; it sends a bad message to teen girls and I cannot recommend it.
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