Rift

by Beverley Birch

In a vast African landscape, four teenagers and a journalist vanish without a trace from a camp below a steep rock ridge. As Ella, the sister of one of the missing girls, helps Inspector Murothi piece together what happened, she realizes there are terrifying possibilities for her sister and the four others. There has been sinister behavior and bullying in the camp where the missing were staying. Has there been foul play? Then one of the missing turns up—but with no memory of what has happened. As the search helicopters continue their constant hum over the rock ridge, Ella and the inspector begin to wonder whether they are already too late.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rift is a young adult thriller. A story about the mysterious disappearance of a group of young people in Africa, when one of them turns up with amnesia in a place that should be impossible, and with no signs of the ravages of the African sun. It is the story of a girl who goes looking for her missing sister, and of the people who work to piece together what has happened, and all the people and obstacles in their path. It is very well written, and a very intelligent piece.

Real strengths of this story come from the descriptions of the African setting, which are very well done. Also of the characterisations, which are clever. Ella is no Mary Sue. The writer cleverly made believable characters that worked together. Not just Ella but others too. Some great character study went into this, and the story is engrossing.

I notice that the young adult readership nevertheless finds some frustration with this story. The conclusion of the story is, I think, satisfying - but it is also fast, and fails to tie up all the loose ends. Many stories, actually, get written this way - especially now. Life doesn't always tie up loose ends, and leaving some threads hanging for reader speculation is a well tried technique - but it can indeed be a frustrating one. The author is brave to do this in a young adult tale, where readership tends to be more used to the finished tale, and it is not surprising that this challenge to the notion of a story does not go unremarked. It is also, I think, a character tale, despite being moulded as a thriller. For those reasons it won't be universally liked, but you can't deny it is a clever tale.

[Fairy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave it 1 star because I can't give it anything lower. I would have DNFed this book but I was obliged to read it. The character and plot were so so so boring. And the ending was bad!!! Not worth your time.

[Mckenzieti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an exciting and tense book that was very gripping at times. It was set in Africa, which intrigued me further as I actually learned more about the place I live in. The book was from the point of view of a girl named Ella, who had travelled from Britain to investigate further into her sister’s disappearance a long with a bunch of other students that were on the school trip. The mystery is revealed in layers with random students being found in confusing places but not her sister. This greatly distresses Ella and keeps the reader hooked. Beverly Birch constructed the book very effectively as it reveals the mystery’s secrets through various ways and often at unexpected times which makes it seem realistic. Diaries of the missing children were also a big part of the investigation and essential Ella’s sister’s diary had some major clues that helped Ella and inspector Murothi solve the case just in time. The language used is quite simple though, and I wasn’t personally very challenged with the vocabulary or sentence structure. The writing however was dramatic and powerful, for example here is an extract from the book just before Ella was taken hostage: ‘There was a slight, furtive, rasping sound. It came to her at the same moment she saw a change in light through the canvas.’
Weaknesses include: simple language and some poor links and supposedly important clues that don’t affect the discovery of Ella’s sister or any other missing student.
Strengths include: the authors vast extent of knowledge of Africa, the layering of the investigation and realistic dialogue.
This is a book not written in series, but if it was I would read the next book as I enjoyed the read. Personally I would recommend it to a friend that was in the grade or two below as I didn’t feel it was as challenging as I would have liked it to be, despite the easy read. All in all, it was a fascinating novel that effectively contrasted the life and wildness of Africa to the evil of people that often isn’t seen unless you look for it. I was impressed, however, by the depth and extent of knowledge that the writer, Beverly birch, knew about the continent of Africa. This made the novel even more interesting and realistic, which I enjoyed very much as well as giving me a personal connection to the book. She has clearly experience of this continent.

[Suzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had the potential to be a great book. The story line was interesting, the setting was different and unique. It was slow starting, but after the first few chapters, it really takes off. And then it ends. That's the problem. It introduces some really big characters and situations, and then never resolves them. There is no closure on the second theme of bullying. The whole reason behind the students disappearance is just cut off. Juvenile fiction authors need to have more respect for their readers and not think that a neat little bow that ties it all off in the end is going to cut it. Probably only should have given it two stars, but it really did hold my attention, until the end.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evocative writing style - recreates the African landscape beautifully, and I enjoyed learning more about characters through different writing styles - letters, diaries, memories etc - quite cleverly done.

One major theme/ strand left unresolved for me, which grates still! Bullying within the camp between teenagers, but also the dynamics between staff members and the disregard shown to wiser, more knowledgeable African camp staff and police officers needed more resolution - I still want certain characters to have realised the impact of their actions, but perhaps the author wanted me to understand that life isn’t always neatly ‘rounded off’?

Overall, my enjoyment of the sense of place was an absolute treat and brought vibrancy and colour to my rather quiet summer!

[Camilla Chester · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met Beverley and was therefore lucky to get a signed copy of this book from her. She has a formidable reputation as both a successful children's/YA writer and an editor and this was the first book of hers that I'd read.
I liked it, but was confused at times over the plot.
She builds up the drama nicely, I love her descriptions of the place setting in Africa and her characters are strong, but I found it difficult to follow all the different threads.
I gave it to my 11 year old daughter, thinking perhaps it was just me (I'm a grown-up, it is written for children) but she felt the same. She kept asking me questions about it that I couldn't answer myself.
You might love it! I get lost in Doctor Who don't forget and gave up watching that a few years ago. The Bad Wolf thing and the crack and the girl who kept popping up Clara whatever....

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book about the search for 5 people lost in an arid, remote area in Africa. The searchers know they must find them soon or it will be too late. The man in charge of the search is African and it is all a little mystical. Three of the lost are English, students from a camp made up of students all from the same school. The teacher in charge is a control freak who dislikes the students who are lost and there is some possibility she may be responsible for their disappearance.

[Mango · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book. Period. It didn't real you in like most books would. Maybe it's just not my type of book but, hey, at least I tried. The back of the book doesn't even tell you what the book is about(I picked it up for the cover. The first pages are dead boring. I also thought that the book was a tad confusing. Ella wasn't all that great of a character either. So overall, bad...

[Calzean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as an audio book.

There needed to be something more in this book - another reason why the 4 children had disappeared. Maybe to do with bully and the mean principal teacher being in cahoots or something. Otherwise it was a just a bit flat with no real suspense.

No doubt it is a young, Young Adult book so it might appeal better to that age group.

[Faith Dinna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hated this book with all my soul. I couldn't finish.

No. Just no.

So...I'm on page 73 and I think I like the writing style...still in the air about that. I know one thing for sure and that's the fact that I am confused. I don't know what's going on and maybe that's intentional because the characters also don't know what's happening...or maybe I am not paying attention.

[Richard P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, the mystery twists and turns offering the reader the chance to guess and second guess what has happened to the missing group. I think there could have been more to the story, perhaps it wrapped up to quickly towards the end.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good adventure story, but elements of bullying just muddy the waters and they are not resolved, ending comes very fast. Nominated for the Carnegie Medal (UK)

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric, intriguing mystery set in Africa. Very reminiscent of the old movie "Picnic at Hanging Rock". I just re-read this for my teen book group at work. Very good!

[Helen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. An unusual format consisting of character pov, journal entries, letters, emails. Well drawn, interesting characters and fascinating plot. Highly recommended.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missing-persons police thriller type, with minor archaeological ties. 3.5 stars.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

mystery-ish about missing children...really a commentary about personalities and African history/culture.

[Clare · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I was forced to read this for one of my modules at uni, and I really, really didn't get on with the subject matter, or the way it was written.