Wake Up Missing

Let's just say, I am a huge fan of Kate Messner.  I read The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. a couple years ago, and I thought, "This is an author I need to have on the shelves of my classroom".  Kate Messner "gets" kids.  As a former teacher, she knows how kids sound and how kids act.  All of her books have such real and believable characters.  I recently read her book Eye of the Storm (review here) and loved it.  And when I heard that there was another science-based novel coming out, I knew I had to read it ASAP.  Thankfully, my friend Stephanie sent me an ARC to read.

Cat has had a life-changing concussion.  She has lingering headaches, trouble focusing, and dizziness.  She is unable to do many of the outdoor activities that she has loved her whole life.  When she and her mother learn about a cutting edge brain-injury center in the Florida Everglades, they jump at the chance to send her.  Cat is nervous for her mom to leave her, but she really wants to get better.  When she arrives, she meets three other kids her age who are also being treated for similar brain injuries.  Things look great at the start, state of the art labs, two smart doctors, kids who say they feel better already.  But Cat is observant.  She notices everything.  She starts to get a funny feeling when she learns about two other kids who are supposedly there, but she never sees them.  She overhears the doctors talking about the DNA of dead scientists and a girl who isn't getting better.  Cat knows something is up and has to convince the others that things might not be what they seem.

Just like Eye of the Storm, this book is fast-paced and exciting.  I read it in one sitting and was sad for it to end.  Kate Messner does a fabulous job researching her books...this book taught me about the science of brain injury and also a lot about the Florida Everglades.  I hope she has some more of these sci-fi type novels to come!

This books comes out on September 10th!  I can't wait to get a copy for my classroom!

Here are some other Kate Messer books I love:

Capture the Flag

Over and Under the Snow

Marty McGuire

Real Revision

Have you read Wake Up Missing?  I'd love to hear what you think!