Missing

As a result of bullying at school, Maxine's 13-year-old brother Derek disappears. Almost two years later his dead body turns up in a London squat. The effect of this on Maxine and her parents is graphically described. Maxine is now the age Derek was when he disappeared and is a loner at school. She feels that her parents are preoccupied with Derek, his disappearance and death, and wish that it was she and not Derek who died. Her father's increasing tension as he attempts to cope with his own loss and her mother's increasing withdrawal into a world of spiritualism and seances makes it impossible to confide in her parents when she begins to recieve telephone calls, seemingly from Derek. The almost monstrously drawn bully Sweeney is still at work, staking out potential victims and reminding Maxine of his persecution of Derek. MacPhail brings these elements together in a tense, tautly written novel. Maxine's own anguish, her uncertainties and her guilt at having at times wished Derek dead are skilfully explored. Young people who have been through similar experiences to that of Maxine and her family and who have experienced her mixture of emotions may take comfort in finding that they are not unique. However, there is also a possibility with a book such as this that it may cause fresh pain to those who are or have been in a similar situation. Teachers and librarians may wish to exercise care in providing access to it.