Vanish

by Karen Spafford-Fitz

Fourteen-year-old Simone is having trouble making friends at her new school when her leadership studies class is paired with kindergarten students to mentor throughout the school year. To her surprise, Simone enjoys the Kinderbuddy Project, and she develops a special friendship with her Kinderbuddy, Lily. But as the bond between Simone and her Kinderbuddy grows, she realizes that a crisis is looming in Lily's family. Simone calls upon Aaron, the reluctant heartthrob of the class, for help, and they become key witnesses to events neither of them could have predicted.

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2013

About the author

Karen Spafford-Fitz grew up in an old limestone farmhouse that she suspects was haunted. “My childhood home near Kingston, Ontario expressed itself through an alarming range of squeaks, creaks, moans, groans, bumps and thumps—especially on dark, stormy nights. It was perfect for fuelling the imagination of a young writer-to-be!”

Karen’s early training as a writer involved reading thousands of books. “As a child, I had mounds of books on my nightstand that frequently avalanched onto the floor. These mounds included the Anne of Green Gables stories, Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden. I was horse-crazy too, so Black Beauty, The Black Stallion, and my dad’s old Lone Ranger books were also favorites. At one point, I went through a horror-story phase where I read the creepiest books I could find—even though they scared me to death.”

Karen later went to Queen’s University, where she received degrees in English and in Education. For the next eight years, she taught elementary and junior high students in Toronto and in Edmonton. Although Karen enjoyed teaching, she wanted a home-based career after her daughters were born, and so she turned to freelance writing. One of her projects involved writing educational software for students, which helped Karen discover her love of writing for young people. She soon began creating her own stories for children and teenagers, and Dog Walker, Karen’s first book, was released in March 2006.

When Karen is not writing, she is often reading, gardening, running, skiing or enjoying Edmonton’s river valley with her husband, her two daughters and her two enormous dogs. Karen also enjoys visiting schools and libraries in the Edmonton area where she speaks to students about the inspiration for her stories, the creative process, and the writing life.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fascinating read. I couldn't figure out right away what was going on with Lily, but as I kept reading I knew there was more to the story. I liked how the MC cared so much about Lily and wanted to keep seeing her often.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot that happened in the book, but the way it's told is more as an outside observer and that was kind of boring. I never understood the motivation for why the event that happened, happened, so that would've been nice to know. However, overall the story was alright.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanish was a cute little story about the friendship of an introvert 14 year old and a kindergarten girl. Sooo cute & it is a fast read, set in Alberta which is a bonus.
I really liked Simone & the relationship she has with Lily. I like all the characters & the fact that there is no romance in this novel :3.
I think it would be more enjoyable for the younger young adults than the older ones since there is no romance (which I kinda liked). The story focuses mainly on Simone & Lily's friendship.
I'm excited to go listen to what Karen has to say about writing YA on Sunday.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 2 out of 5]

VANISH is a younger middle grade story Simone, an eighth grade girl who worries something is wrong with her Kinderbuddy, a five year old girl she volunteers with.

The story lacks character depth and mystery that would engage older MG readers, though younger kids may enjoy.

[Alesar · Rating 4 out of 5]

POSSIBLE SPOILER?‼️⚠️


Absolutely a great book! It took me a bit to fully understand what was going on with Lily but as I kept reading it became clear. I kind of missed a chapter in the end, anything about if they found Rachel.
But anyways, a great book and I definitely recommend it!

[c · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and uneventful. Just another book produced for 5th grade book clubs and not for having a good story. It goes by way too fast, or time of year isn’t etsablished. I would never read this again.

[Tayy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy for me to become entranced and in love with the characters involved. A heartwretching but heart warming love story.

[Sheri Radford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting and nicely plotted novel, sure to please reluctant readers.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The protagonist Simone is moving to a new school. Leadership studies is the only class that have room when she register. Her class are doing a project called the kinder buddy project. First, choose a kid from the kindergarten class. Simone choose a girl named Lily. What this project is to help the kindergarten kid mentor throughout the school year. During the project, Lily and Simone became very good friend. They help each others. Lily's problem is that her parents are divorced. One day, Simone herd from someone that Lily's father want to see Lily a afternoon in the park. Simone did not tell lily about because she doesn't want Lily to feel sad. After school, when Lily went to Simone's house with a big smile on her face. By that time, Simone know that she had made the right choice not to tell Lily about her father. After the project, Lily and Simone become very good friend. They trust each other and like to play with each other outside and inside.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Simone struggles to make friends at her new school since she moved just days before school started. When her Leadership class pairs up teens to Kindergarteners, Simone is not too thrilled, but is surprised when her Kinderbuddy, Lily, immediately latches onto her. As Simone’s friendship with Lily deepens, she learns some unsettling details about Lily’s home life and begins to worry about her safety. Can Simone help Lily in a time of family crisis?

Like most Orca novels, reluctant readers will enjoy this fast-paced story full of riveting teen issues and likable characters. This book’s reading level is 3.7. Teens who enjoy realistic fiction with a little romance, suspense and mystery, will like this one.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Simone moves to a new school at the start of 8th grade and is having trouble making friends there. When her leadership class begins an ongoing project with the kindergartners, she actually enjoys spending time with her buddy, Lily. However, disaster is about to strike. This Orca Currents book is a compelling hi-lo realistic drama. Savvy readers will easily predict plot twists, but will still enjoy the characters and story.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, for middle grade students but I don't care. It was really good. The bond between the two characters, the high school student and the kindergartener Lilly reminded me of when I was in high school and had that same sort of bond with my own buddy. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a simple read, I read it in half an hour, even if I'm said to be a slow reader.

[Elizbeth Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it had a lot of details in it and I could have imagine what was written in real life. I would recommend this book because if you enjoy playing or talking with little kids and getting to know them like I do then this is the book for you. Also there is some thing wrong in Lily's family (kinder buddy) and it captures your attention.

[Karina Cardona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is amazing!! I love this book,well Simone did a great job getting adapted to the school even though she entered that school the first five minutes she moved to the area . i think when she did KINDERGARTEN BUDDY JOB she did a great job of taking good care of the girl inside school and outside school .

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A suspenseful, fast read. I'm having a hard time writing this review without giving away the plot! Let's just say that Simone is a sympathetic character, who reacts in a believable way, when she is drawn into the troubled life of her Kinderbuddy, Lily.

[Carol Moore Kollar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to make friends in a new school and fitting in with the "entitled," Simone joins a Kinderbuddy project working with kindergarteners.only there's something strange about Lily and then she and her Mom go missing. Quick easy read.

[Ciana Carpenter]

I think this book was good because it was about a girl's father who became a little suspicious when his daughter became missing and her mother but then the daughter was found in Mexico but her mother was still missing

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for review.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Very quick read (pre-reading it before giving to my daughter). Rounded up rather than down because I think it's easily a 4-star book for my daughter.

[Illey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, with such a great buildup. Parts of me wishes it was a bit longer so that we could dive into to the things left unsaid BUT for middle aged kids, it's perfect.