Stolen Children, by American writer Peg Kehret, is a 2008 novel for young adults. In the book, a 14-year-old girl who's just finished a babysitting course and the baby she was hired to take care of are kidnapped.
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| Author | Peg Kehret |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Suspense |
| Publisher | Dutton Children's Books |
Publication date | 2008 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 208 |
| ISBN | 9780525478355 |
Plot summary
editAmy is a 14-year-old who has just lost her father and, after finishing her babysitting course, is hired to take care of a 3-year-old baby girl from a wealthy family. After beginning her new job, the girls are kidnapped and offered for ransom by two criminals. While recording the tapes they plan to deliver to the baby's parents, Amy sends coded messages through the recordings to help the parents figure out where they are being held.
Reception
editStolen Children received generally positive reviews. Kirkus Reviews called it a "sure hit for the intended audience",[1] while Andrew Medlar, writing for The Booklist, praised the story's consistent pace and drama, as well as noting that, at no point, physical violence is depicted in the book.[2]
The book was highlighted in the 2009 Children's Choices – a list of book recommendation for children and young adults – where it was praised for its enticing plot and for possibly encouraging readers to try babysitting classes.[3]
In 2010, Stolen Children was one of the three winners of the "Charlotte Award", which is sponsored by the New York State Reading Association.[4] In 2011, Kehret was the recipient of her third Mark Twain Readers Award for Stolen Children.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Stolen Children". Kirkus Reviews (18). Sep 2008.
- ^ Medlar, Andrew (Dec 2008). "Stolen Children". The Booklist. 105 (8): 44–46.
- ^ "Children's Choices 2009". The Reading Teacher. 63 (2): C13. 2009. ISSN 0034-0561. JSTOR 40347668. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Charlotte Award-winning books keep kids reading". Reading Today. 28 (1): 17. Aug–Sep 2010.
- ^ "Mark Twain Award Previous Winners - Missouri Association of School Librarians". masl.site-ym.com. Retrieved 12 September 2020.