Jakarta Missing

by Jane Kurtz

Dakar is scared. When her family left East Africa to spend a year or two in Cottonwood, North Dakota, Dakar's older sister, Jakarta, was adamant about staying behind. Now Jakarta is all by herself in Kenya...and she's missing.It's terrible to go through life cringing, sure that at any minute a blow is going to come from somewhere. Dakar doesn't want to worry, but she can't help it. What if Jakarta was in the middle of a Nairobi bombing? What if Mom gets caught by hoodies and forced back into that place when Jakarta isn't even there to help? What if Dad decides to go off to save lives and is seized by some mysterious disease? If Dakar were able to do three really brave things, would that be enough to keep her family together?

Almost everything in Cottonwood, North Dakota, requires bravery from a girl who has grown up in Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Senegal. The possibility of a new friend, navigating a new school, and preparing for snow -- the first Dakar will ever see -- is the least of it. Jakarta is missing...when she's home and when she's not. And for Jakarta, Dakar will battle the universe.

Genres: Africa, Young Adult, Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but when she was two years old, her parents moved to Ethiopia. Jane grew up in Maji, a small town in the southwest corner of the country.
Since there were no televisions, radios, or movies, her memories are of climbing mountains, wading in rivers by the waterfalls, listening to stories, and making up her own stories, which she and her sisters acted out for days at a time.


That love of nature has recently inspired her to write books about loving the Earth--such as WHAT DO THEY DO WITH ALL THAT POO? and PLANET JUPITER.

Jane has published more than 40 books, fiction, nonfiction, picture books, novels for young readers, and ready-to-reads. Some are based on her childhood in Ethiopia. Some draw on her own children, such as ANNA WAS HERE, a novel for young readers that asks life's big questions about pain and disaster--and offers a few puny answers.

Since her childhood in Ethiopia, Jane has lived in Illinois, Colorado, North Dakota, Kansas and--now--back in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Ms. P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jakarta Missing shows that sibling relationships can survive hard times. When the book starts, Dakar’s sister, Jakarta, is at boarding school in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dakar misses her so much while she tries to find friends in her new school in North Dakota. When Jakarta returns to the family, she is angry about being pulled away from her “true home”, and takes her anger out on everyone, even pushing Dakar away. But as Jakarta settles into the new school, Dakar and Jakarta find opportunities to support each other through their transition, and repair their relationship.
I loved that these sisters are third culture kids, and that Nairobi featured in their memories. The specific details of places that I’ve been brought back all kinds of memories of my own. I also can relate to how it feels to talk about our overseas life to people who have never moved or traveled- it’s complicated deciding how many details to include or how interested people really are!

[Dale Kurtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable ... but thoughtful story of the kids of mission parents who are dedicated to their work. Jane tells a story of a strong young teen girl who makes her life happen despite difficulties. And a good basketball story for those who involved their youth in sports like the older sister of the main character.

[LeAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When her sister, star-athlete Jakarta, finally joins them, Dakar feels much safer and happier in Cottonwood, North Dakota, where she and their parents are living for a year, but she still longs for their home in Africa.
10+ I hated the ending, but in many ways it is probably realistic.

[Koqua · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked this book.