Missing Girls

by Lois Metzger

Carrie Schmidt is a missing girl.
 
It’s the summer of 1967, and the newspapers are full of stories about “missing girls”—teenagers who run away, looking for freedom and thrills in New York City. Carrie Schmidt feels like she’s missing, too—missing from her own life. Ever since her mother died four years ago, it’s as if she’s been sleepwalking. Then Carrie meets Mona Brockner, who knows the secret of “lucid dreaming,” being awake inside your dreams. Their friendship is Carrie’s chance to find her mother, wake up—and step into her future.
 
* “Intense and complex, as satisfying as finding a misplaced treasure.” — SLJ , starred review

An Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult

Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Lois Metzger was born in Queens, New York City. Three of her five young-adult novels take place in Belle Heights, an invented Queens neighborhood that is boring on purpose to stand in stark contrast to the dramatic life of her characters. She has also written two nonfiction books about the Holocaust, and has edited five anthologies of original short stories. She lives near Washington Square Park in New York with her husband, son, and a tuxedo cat. Someone once told her that black-and-white cats were the best, which she thought made no sense. Now she's a believer.

Reviews

[Gabriela · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was all right but it wasn't the best book so I hope you might like it

[Jazmine C · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

I don't know what it was with this book but it was horrible I don't see any point of why it was written I only picked it up and read it because it was the only book on my bookshelf that I haven't read I think it was the worse book but their were some good parts and some horrible parts but overall I don't recommend it at all DON'T PICK IT UP !!!!

[Mikaela C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really sad it talk about some people think there lost in the world and how they have other people to help them out and I really think people should read this its a really good book they go through alot

[Luci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it and didn't find particular issues with it. It held my interest, but I didn't love it. About a girl living with her grandmother who idolizes her friend's traditional family.

[Amy Snyder · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really enjoying this book so far. It seems a little disjointed. Girl's mother is dead, father is a boxing trainer and is away living with grandmother, who lived through World War II and the holocaust. But for some reason this girl seems to be focusing on lucid dreaming, in a way I guess trying to bring her closer to her mother. But really, it just makes the girl seem weird, and for this reason she cannot seem to hold on to any friends except Mona, who is also a little different.

So i did like the story about the girl and her family and learning about her mother. The backdrop of the war and the tension between the generations works well, but the constant talk of dreams is a real distractor and takes away from the sweetness of the book. I like the introduction of the man who had kept the mom safe during the war, and the introduction of dad to the story.

[Abigailsceusa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story written by Loui Metzger is about a girl named Carrie whos lives with her aunt,Mutti. Carrie has currently moved to her aunts house, she is in a new town and in a new school, were she is being challenged to make new friends. The first girl she meets is Mona, a strang girl who dreams dreams while she is awake. Mona and Carrie become best friends in the story. Carrie and Mona both find that their not the onlys ones who have problems with there families and this is what they have in common. Mona taught Carrie how to lucid dream, this was the first step for their friendship. Currently, Mona is meeting her father and Angus Fraser,her dead mothers friend from when she was younger. Carrie will soon find out who Angus Fraser is and how he knew her mother.

[Elizabeth Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1967 Carrie is struggling to find out where she really belongs as a young teenager. Her mother has died, she is living with her grandmother for the year while her father travels, and to top it off Carrie doesn't feel like an American because of her background. In her new school Carrie makes some friends, one of which teaches her about dreams.

I loved the section of the book that discussed lucid dreaming. However, the rest of the book was difficult and depressing for me because so much is about World War 2 and the history of Carrie's family. If you enjoy learning about the difficulties of life in those days, you will enjoy this book.

[Mariyam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd have enjoyed more history tied into it, like the Korean War protests, concentration camps during WW2, the runaway teens of the 60's. All very interesting points in history.

But I understand the point of the story was to focus on the life of a girl in that time, and the historical factors were just details. The characters weren't exactly flat, but I feel like their personalities were black-and-white. But it was fine. The mood was written very well, of a depressed girl's view of the world. Also I got lesbian vibes from Carrie, just something about how she described women. But aside from. that, her and Mona's friendship was good.

[Aiyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel captures the true awkwardness and uncertainty of the teenage years. Although the protagonist feels herself to be drifting in isolation, it is clear that her friends, too, are struggling with questions of identity, fears about the future, and painful pasts. The writing is simple and tender, unfolding the story slowly and gently, as Carrie discovers the true meaning of family.

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't my kind of book, but I really got into it. There wasn't as much action as I would have liked, and I wanted more dream sequences, but it had great characterization and was written beautifully.