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Lost and Found

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In 1939, a sole Jewish smuggler immigrates to America to preserve a heritage Hitler hoped to erase. In 1944, two spies enter the United States on a mission to track down one man and a treasure of missing Spanish gold. In 2014, the immigrant’s son, his mind deteriorating from dementia, disappears, but not before he leaves his grandson clues, thrusting him into a mystery seventy-five years in the making. Blake Nolan and his girlfriend set out to unravel clues that could not only set secrets from history right again but also lead to two priceless treasures. With his grandfather’s life in the balance and suspects hot on Blake’s trail, will what was lost be found in time?

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2015

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20 people want to read

About the author

Jeff LaFerney

27 books68 followers
Jeff LaFerney was a full-time language arts teacher in Davison, Michigan, for 30 years. After coaching basketball for most of his career, he decided to write books instead and took on his new hobby. Now he spends his free time reading, writing, and editing books. He and his beautiful wife have two adult children. His Clay and Tanner Thomas series focuses on a father and son team who use parapsychological abilities to solve mysteries. Jumper, Planer, and Warper are time-travel science fiction adventures. Lost and Found is a unique mystery/treasure hunt with ties to World War II history. His latest, The Lake House, is a detective murder mystery. He has a blog called The Red Pen where he usually infuses humor to share about himself or to give inspiration or writing tips. http://jefflaferney.blogspot.com/

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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Wanda Hartzenberg.
Author 5 books73 followers
May 19, 2015
Lost and Found by Jeff LaFerney
This is the second book in about 30 days that I have read with a YA male as the hero. I am very impressed in finding more and more authors filling a very real gap in YA reading. Not all readers are girls. So to find a good boy doing the right thing is a positive reinforcement I cannot help but endorse.
The book is far more however than a simple plot line of a hero saving the day.
It is about the effects of Dementia on a family, mother, inflicted grandfather, and grandson. The added stress of having a father on active duty abroad is totally overshadowed by the very real problem of living with a person in the early phases of dementia. I found this a stunning twist and a very insightful one. I think fiction is much like Mary Poppins; a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down. To raise awareness of day to day life, the real import of the family unit, community etc is more readily available for everybody let alone the youth when dressed up in a truly fast paced plot.
The mystery part of this story is stunning, working against the clock, saving riddles relayed by an old man with dementia to save that very man’s life is what the main plot is all about. Naturally we have a girl, a really nice one whom somewhat reminded me of Hermione in Harry Potter, she is pretty, smart and unconcerned about life outside of her own reality. Not bothering trying to become prom queen, this girl is somebody who knows who she is and likes what she sees, so do we, the readers.
The grandpa….awh. I fell in love with him from the first mention. I was rooting for him when all gave up.
Character development is really well done as is setting. This town came alive for me and the volunteers at the search and rescue added to my idea of rural America where community still means something if not for some, everything.
The historic aspect is what got me to initially pick up this book. I love WWII. I love the history, the conspiracy the general “educated” guess work. Some of these educated guess work really rings true and rocks.
All in all, a must read book aimed for the YA male but accessible to all.
What makes this such a good read is the ease of reading, the smoothness of plot.
Get a copy if you have a teen who wants to read but has difficulty finding books for YA male’s.


Profile Image for Joanna Doster.
Author 5 books61 followers
April 21, 2015
A Must Read On So Many Levels.

Lost and Found by Jeff LaFerney

Draped against the horrific backdrop of the Nazi era, the author deftly crafts a deeply moving story about what lengths families go through to preserve their legacy. I was bowled over by the authenticity of LaFerney's writing about the atrocities of the Holocaust, seen through the eyes of one family, and how he brings the story full-circle to present day. Not only is Lost and Found a compelling mystery within mysteries, but the author masterfully knits together fascinating stories. Added to the mix are endearing characters, like Grandpa Bloom, his grandson Blake, and his friend Julia. I loved this book. It is very well written and it resonated with me on so many levels; the universal love of family, courage against adversity, and good vs. evil.
Profile Image for Ashley Fontainne.
Author 47 books149 followers
April 20, 2015
Lost and Found is one of those books that grabs you from the first sentence and doesn't let go. Jeff LaFerney weaves an intricate mystery, full of all sorts of twists and turns. The characters are realistic, the dialogue spot on, and the historical aspects interesting and imaginative. My favorite character was Grandpa Bloom. The author does a superb job writing a character suffering from dementia. The clues to historical treasure Grandpa Bloom leaves behind for his grandson, Blake, only come from the mind of a talented writer.

Bravo, Jeff LaFerney, for writing such a heartfelt story. Lovers of history and suspense will truly enjoy Lost and Found.
Profile Image for Angie.
1,395 reviews284 followers
June 15, 2015
I have some mixed feelings about Lost and Found, and as I don’t even know where to begin I’m going to jump right in and share my likes and dislikes about this mystery adventure.

The story didn’t hook me straightaway. That only happened around 67% into the book. Some of the main issues I had were that the characters were rather bland. I didn’t like that Blake is a hotheaded character. It would’ve made sense maybe if I knew why he was always being short-tempered. It felt as if from the minute we meet him, he’s angry and his outbursts unpredictable. Julia is a much better character than Blake, but even so, I struggled to find a connection with her or any of the other characters. I did, however, like that Julia is one of Laferney’s better female characters than, say, the one in his previous novel, Jumper. Julia seemed more the type of girl I would like to have as a friend.

Blake’s grandfather’s dementia constantly threw me off balance and by the time he disappears, it was more a relief than a sad occurrence. You know, coming to think of it, I recently finished a book by Ransom Riggs, titled Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, where the grandfather in that story also has dementia. The difference is that that character was far more believable and likable because he didn’t resort to below-the-belt or toilet humor to bring the point home to the reader that he suffers from dementia. After reading that book, it was unfortunately a lot harder to sympathize or connect with Blake’s grandfather.

It seemed that every character that wasn’t in the protagonist’s corner, were portrayed as immature and dumb. In my opinion, that’s no way to portray your antagonists. It’s like saying to your readers they’re not bright enough to figure out by themselves who the bad guys are. That’s probably not what the author intended, but that’s sure how it made me feel. Take for instance schoolyard bully, Kevin. I’ve seen this type of bully/antagonist in Laferney’s previous novels. The same can be said for all the “bad guys” in this story who are older than Kevin. They all seem to have the behavior of a mentally challenged ten-year-old. Because of this and the fact that a lot of focus was placed on Kevin and his father’s behavior in the early chapters, it was easy to spot from early on who the culprits were going to be in the end, and thus it came as no surprise (except for one, but by then it no longer mattered).

There aren’t many surprises in this story, even though there are a ton of clues leading up to the eventual find – which turns out to also not be surprising or revealing much. The one “treasure” Blake and Julia uncovers is so unlikely, it wasn’t even believable, and more so because it is never explained how it came to be in Blake’s family’s possession.

What I enjoyed about this book was the fast pace. That also means there was a ton of info dump with few to no breathers in between. For many avid mystery readers this would not be a problem, though some, like me, prefer our mysteries to be uncovered gradually and with little breaks spaced in to get to know our characters and their surroundings better.

What was a huge plus for me was the sweet and subtle romance between Blake and Julia which I think the author timed perfectly well. I also enjoyed reading the Author’s Note at the end which gave me insight into his research and which parts of the story are fictional and which were based on facts/truth. The dialogue in the beginning of the story is a little stunted, but towards the middle it smoothes out and adds depth to the protagonists voices.

Overall I feel this is a clever YA mystery with lots to offer its most curious readers. The topic and setting has clearly been well researched and the clues – as confusing as it might be at times – serve their purpose to bring the characters to their intended destination. The writing is typical Laferney and the author sticks to the style he is known for best, which means if you’ve read any of his previous novels, you’ll feel right at home settling into Lost and Found.
Profile Image for Jenny  Zimmerman.
1,663 reviews71 followers
April 26, 2015

This story just totally blew my mind. I was hooked right from the beginning and couldn’t put this book down. I actually read this book three times, that’s how much I loved it. The author did a magnificent job with the characters and the different things that happened throughout the whole book. It just flowed and was such a remarkable story and is by far my favorite book from this author, and I have read a lot of his work. The events in the story were just phenomenal and I love it when an author takes real life history and uses it with their own imagination, and this author did just that. He spun historical events and his own imagination in this story, along with the adventure that kept me mesmerized from beginning to end. I also laughed few times too. I highly recommend this story to readers of all genres. It’s the way this author can weave a story and make you think you are a part of it that will interest all readers. This story is full of fun, laughs, tears, and lots of adventure that will make this story a great read for years to come.

Don’t just take my word for it, go and get it for yourself and I hope it makes you feel the excitement and love that I felt throughout the book.

Thank you, Jeff, for this remarkable story that I will treasure and re-read for a lifetime.

The author provided me with a digital ARC copy of the book for review purposes only. No remuneration was exchanged.
Profile Image for Marla.
387 reviews21 followers
May 18, 2015
Nazi-era history, hidden treasure, puzzles, and an intriguing mystery – it is all entwined in this new novel by Jeff LaFerney and I loved it!

As if the fun mystery with all the interwoven puzzles and riddles weren’t enough, LaFerney gives readers some of the most endearing and fun to follow characters – Blake and Julia (not to mention Grandpa Bloom who is just awesome). Really, the lovable characters extend to most of those in the story and the ones that aren’t lovable, aren’t supposed to be lovable so it all works out!

The historical accuracy was something I appreciated. History has always been something I’ve struggled with – I often get bored and my mind wanders. When an author comes along and is able to weave historically accurate events, people, and dates into a story, I find it engaging and interesting enough that I can hold onto those details long after the story is over! LaFerney even outlines fact vs. fiction in a special section at the end of the book.

While we’re talking about accuracy, I should mention that LaFerney renders plenty of accuracy outside the historical details in Lost and Found. While reading scenes with Grandpa Bloom, I was given glimpses of life with my own grandmother and later an aunt who both suffered from forms of dementia.

If you’re looking for a mystery that is both light and exciting. As well as a read that is quick, yet completely full of detail, look no further. Pick this one up and settle in for the ride!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not compensated for any of my reviews.
Profile Image for H.J. Daly.
Author 3 books40 followers
May 22, 2015
Blake Nolan, along with his mother has moved into his granddad’s home. His granddad Matthias Bloom, has dementia and is slowly losing who he is. Before he forgets life both past and present he tries to impart his knowledge on to Blake. It is confusing, but he leaves clues that will help his grandson find the answers, but answers to what?

We follow Blake once his grandfather disappears, they think he has wandered off, his dementia an issue, but he hides a secrete and people are very interested to take it before he forgets everything. Blake is the only one who can work out the clues that have been left and now he is in a race against the clock. The clues uncover his great grandfather’s past. How he escaped occupied Germany with treasures from his family.

This book dips into wartime history and the treasures that the Nazi’s tried to acquire from Jewish families, amongst others, though it concentrates on the treasure hunt that Blake and his friend Julie head out on. There are numerous smaller characters that escalate the tension, though I feel that the main characters are not developed enough to truly hold my attention. I felt for the family as they looked for Matthias and how everyone rallied around to help. For me there some of the dialogue felt a little strained and I found some of the decisions that the characters made strange. Such as when Blake insisted on chasing the treasure rather than look for his grandfather or when Mr Mayer had his moment of gold fever.

It is an interesting read and if you want a treasure hunt and some intrigue thrown in then this is for you.
Profile Image for Anstice Brown.
Author 3 books38 followers
October 13, 2024
Disclosure: I received an eBook copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Lost and Found was somewhat out of my comfort zone, as I don’t often read historical novels. However, I found myself fully immersed in the story within the first few pages. Lost and Found is one of those rare novels that not only has a gripping plot, but also has memorable characters and a message that resonates with you long after you read the last page.

The novel begins with a prologue that takes us back to the pre-WWII era, when thousands of Jews were forced to emigrate to America after being liberated from concentration camps. After being released from Dachau, The young Joseph Bloom (formerly Josef Bloomberg) is given the important task of smuggling priceless treasures to America in order to preserve the history and heritage of his people.

We then move forward to present day and meet Joseph’s son, who is now an elderly man suffering from dementia, and his great-grandson Blake. Quite early on, Grandpa mysteriously disappears and it’s up to Blake and his girlfriend Julia to follow the breadcrumbs that have been laid for them in order to save his life. I was sucked into the mystery straight away and enjoyed working out the clues along with Blake and Julia. Both were realistic and relatable characters. I particularly liked Julia, who was refreshingly funny.

However, Grandpa Bloom was probably my favourite character. LaFerney presents him with the right mix of sensitivity, respect and humour. He captures the paradoxical nature of dementia perfectly in the way that Grandpa is incoherent and vague one minute, yet startlingly lucid and insightful in the next. Throughout the novel I noticed a theme of ‘opposites’ and how they relate to one another-lost and found, young and old, right and wrong, despair and hope, for example. The novel particularly reflects on how the past and present interconnect. It was fascinating to unravel the web that the author weaved.

Lost and Found was an exciting read that kept me turning the pages late into the night, even with work looming early the next day. LaFerney expertly crafted an intricate plot with many twists and turns, puzzles to solve and plenty of suspense. It really felt like an adventure and the characters go on quite a journey of discovery. In a way I did too, as I learned a lot of interesting historical information. LaFerney must have done a lot of in-depth research to paint such an accurate picture of this period of history.

As the novel centres around the aftermath of the holocaust and the lasting impact on ‘survivors’ and their families, one would expect it to be quite a harrowing read. However, while there were obviously heart-wrenching and horrifying moments, there were also many moments of joy and humour. LaFerney cleverly captures the ‘ups and downs’ of life to portray authentic characters with realistic back-stories, motivations and stakes. I was left with a sense of admiration and awe for the characters and the real people they represent, who endure so much and risk everything to protect an invaluable cultural legacy.

I’m struggling to find anything negative to say about Lost and Found, but for the sake of balance I would add that the novel may not be for everyone. Readers that like a strong romance sub-plot are likely to be disappointed and the novel wouldn’t be suitable for those that dislike gritty, detailed descriptions. You don’t have to have an in-depth knowledge of history to enjoy the novel, but a basic grasp of the events of the holocaust and WWII certainly helps.

Overall, Lost and Found was an amazing book. I thank the author for enlightening me on a subject I had not given much thought to previously and for writing such a moving and entertaining story that will stay with me for a long time.
Profile Image for Lynn Worton.
869 reviews31 followers
May 16, 2015
Review 6*

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic YA mystery/thriller. I LOVED it!

Blake Nolan is a wonderful character. I really liked this young man. He is kind, loving and incredibly gorgeous! He finds himself on an exciting but dangerous adventure when his grandfather, who suffers from dementia, goes missing.

This is a fantastic tale woven through a real life event. The second World War saw atrocities that have left the survivors reeling even after seventy-five years. Not only was the loss of life an outrage, the loss of possessions, either by theft or destruction, has left deep emotional scars within the families affected. Precious heirlooms and significant historical documents and paintings were either pillaged or destroyed by a regime that did it's best to wipe out a whole race. In this story, we are taken on a journey back to 1939 and a war torn Germany and a Jew by the name of Yosef Bloomberg. His journey to the USA is fraught with danger, but he bravely sets off to create a new life for himself after his release from Dachau. The story then jumps ahead to 2014, where Blake finds himself on a treasure hunt for his grandfather, who has gone missing. But, as the mystery of his grandfather's disappearance grows, he finds himself unraveling the clues to a past that will affect his future.

When the author approached me to review this book, I said yes immediately because having read a few of his other books, I knew I was in for an exciting read. I was not wrong! This story hooked me from the first page and had me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. I read this book in one sitting, as I didn't want to put it down! There are several twists and turns that kept me riveted and I found myself guessing for most of the story as to what happened to Matthias Bloom, Blake's grandfather. When the big reveal happened, I was completely surprised. I love the red herrings the author had thrown into the reader's path. They had me thinking one thing when in reality, it was a completely different scenario. The history used in this story is well researched, and I loved the way the author blended the horror and danger of that time into a story that is not only believable, but sad and joyous at the same time. The characters are extremely lifelike and relatable, and the action and danger is intense. I reached the end of the story and my first thought was "Wow!". I had a book hangover from this book and struggled to begin my next read for quite some time. Avid readers will know what I mean when I say that, but for those who don't know what it means to have one of those: A book hangover is where a book affects you so much that you can't stop thinking about it for several hours or days. This book was that intense. I can't wait to see what else this author is working on!

Jeff LaFerney has written a fantastic young adult mystery/thriller. I love his writing style, which is fast paced and exciting, and the flow is wonderfully fluid; each scene flows into the next seamlessly. He is one of the few male authors who has made it onto my favourite authors list and I am looking forward to finally reading Bulletproof, his third book of his Clay and Tanner Thomas series, next.

I highly recommend this as a "MUST READ" to not only teens aged twelve to eighteen but to adults too, who are looking for an exciting read. - Lynn Worton
Profile Image for Autumn.
2,341 reviews47 followers
April 23, 2015
I received an ARC to give an honest review.

The prologue starts with a bit of back story that has some historical references.
Now I should say that not everything in this book is true, there is an author afterword in the end of the book that informs you of what was true and what was made up.
It isn't just filled with some historical information it also has a mystery that has to be solved. Blake is a young teenage boy who had to move with his mom to take care of his grandfather who has dementia. We also get back story as to who Blake's grandfather's father was which is very interesting. Blake's grandfather is sometimes coherent and other times not. He ends up giving Blake clues to something but Blake doesn't really understand. While dealing with this grandfather he is also being dealt a bad blow at his new school because he can not play basketball along with the school bully has him in his sights. When another student named Julia befriends him everything starts to work for Blake. Then the unthinkable happens Blake's grandfather goes missing and the town goes to searching for him while Blake and Julia try to solve the mystery by the clues that his grandfather left behind. Blake doesn't understand most of it but Julia is a smart one and she has figured out some clues. In the end we learn it is all about the gold and some people get gold fever a whole lot more than others.
You are taken on a ride of mystery and action and what the past has to do with the future!
The story line was great, the characters well written and you can understand a bit about how they acted and why. Now Julia was a different character for me as she was very into just making herself at home so to say. On part that bothered me was when she went to Blake's mothers computer and was typing in a password to start researching. Even though I understood why she was doing I felt as though it was a bit uncomfortable so to say. I kept having to wonder the whole time does she have a secret agenda.
Profile Image for Jane.
556 reviews24 followers
May 26, 2015
Lost and Found by Jeff LaFerney

3.5 Stars

When Blake’s grandfather, Matt, goes missing he finds a series of clues. Not sure where they’ll lead, Blake goes on a treasure hunt with the aid of friend, Julia, to solve the mystery. Is Matt’s disappearance the result of a confused dementia episode, or has something sinister happened to him? There are after all other people who also want to know what Matt’s muddled mind is hiding.

Jeff is clearly an established writer with the ability to weave an in depth story mixing fact with fiction, and history with present day. The idea is an exciting and unique tale that covers a number of subjects close to many people’s hearts. The holocaust and the strength of Jewish people when they suffered under Nazi Germany, and the emotional effects dementia has on a sufferer’s family. Combined we are left with a dynamic and powerful story that will keep any reader glued to the pages.

Suitable for all readers interested in intrigue stories with plenty of twists and turns to throw you off the trail.

Cop supplied for review

Profile Image for Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime.
5,639 reviews330 followers
April 23, 2015
Review: LOST AND FOUND by Jeff LaFerney

Author Jeff LaFerney heads in a new direction with this tale of World War II and it's consequences even seventy years in the future. It's common "knowledge" of the Nazi plundering of art, artifacts, treasures, and gold. In this story, Jewish heritage is preserved by a furniture-maker, and shipped to Cuba and then the U.S, with his son, newly released from the horrendous concentration camp, Dachau. War, emigration, and fear, have a way of both altering memory and interfering with information transmission, so not unexpectedly this heritage remains forgotten until the present day.

Mr. LaFerney weaves a mighty tale, heartwrenching and horrifying, yet heartwarming and enlightening. I'm anticipating his next direction.
Profile Image for Renee Leeann.
569 reviews21 followers
April 27, 2015
It's a great book, well-written and worth your time! "My Grandpa said I needed to know numbers and history, puzzles and mystery." This book has just that with some wonderful characters. I loved Blake and Julia. Julia was so refreshing - she made me laugh. This book is a work of fiction that contains some historical facts (the author explains what was fiction and what was not at the end). It never gets boring - the facts add to the story. There are so many different things that the reader can relate to in this book. I was hooked at the beginning and couldn't wait to see how the puzzles and mystery would be solved.
I have read other books by this author and enjoyed all of them.
1 review
April 25, 2015
I was reading a book from the Second World War era and as I read this book, I was pleased to see it started in the same time period. At the same time, we were visiting in CA and went to a museum in Temecula, CA that had a floor dedicated to people who survived the holocaust and came to America. I love that one of the people in the book was escaping on the "SS St Louis", which was a real ship, and one of the people in the museum bio had escaped on that very ship. Very sobering!

Masterful weaving of prior time to the present! I loved the twist of "who done it". Read it in record time.

Great read and this author keeps getting better and better! Thank you.
Profile Image for Christoph Fischer.
Author 49 books469 followers
May 10, 2015
“Lost and Found” by Jeff LaFerney is a complex story spanning segments from 1939, 1945 and 2014. The prologue, set in the past, is thoroughly engaging and I must admit that I was reluctant to move into the present narrative after it.
What follows is a mystery (that involves the past) to be solved by a teenage boy. Blake has his own problems: school bullies and his grandfather’s dementia, which adds more layers to the story.
There’s a lot going on in this book. It is a fascinating story, an emotional and thoughtful read, well-constructed in its narrative and plot.

I received an ARC to give an honest review.
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,897 reviews4 followers
May 21, 2015
This is a story about a teenager who is "forced" to move in with grandpa who has dementia and is taking a turn for the worse. We follow this duo through a game, which seems ill fitting considering what is at stake. I thought the story line was great, it contained some history without making you feel like you were sitting in class. The main focus was on the bond between Grandson and Granddad. With Grandpa you find someone with dementia uses tricks and games to try to remember things, which they usually do, and from those games grandson is able to save the day. Great read.
Profile Image for Eliott McKay.
Author 1 book71 followers
April 23, 2015
Be sure to strap on your helmet, because this story is going to take you for a ride. LaFerney is a master raconteur who snags you up and takes over your life until you finally make it to that last exhilarating page, heart-a-racing. This book is historically rich with all the right combinations: mystery, gold, hidden treasures, and a touch of romance. It’s a spicy habanero that will leave you gasping and supremely satisfied.
Profile Image for Holly.
48 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2015
I've read several of Jeff LaFerney's books and I believe this may be my favorite (until the next one!)
It grabs you from the first sentence and I felt myself reading slowly just to prolong the read! I loved the history, the mystery, the puzzles, the suspense, and the humor.
I sure hope there will be more books with these characters!
Profile Image for S.R. Karfelt.
Author 13 books63 followers
July 9, 2017
Intriguing Mystery

A nicely paced novel involving treasure stolen by the Nazis that even 75 years later is bringing out the worst in some people. I liked the teenage sleuths, and the way past and present were linked. The Alzheimer's twist made the whole story that much better. It's a good read!
Profile Image for  Davis Jennifer.
325 reviews12 followers
November 17, 2015
I was given and e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am so glad that I got a request to read this book. I must be honest, if I were looking a book to read and had read the prologue to this book, I probably would have put the book on the back burner for a while. Luckily, when I commit to reading a book, I read it. The reason I say this is, from the prologue, the book seems to be very history oriented. I don't say that as a bad thing, it is just some "historical" based books make me feel like I need to go back to history class and refresh myself on what is going on. I promise, this book isn't like that at all, thank goodness. It does give you a lot of information in the prologue, and that will be enough information to understand the fiction that does go along with historical events that took place, which sets the theme of how this adventure gets started. If you read the author notes at the end of the book, you will learn that even though the book is a work of fiction, but there are some thing here and there that are real, almost real, and some that are completely made up, which I am sure the history buffs out there would know while reading it, but for someone like me, that only paid attention on the days that was about my interest, then this will come in handy. Plus it helps give a sense of how the author thinks.

The story does revolve around things that took place in the past, but the story takes place in the present. The past gives you the information you need to help follow Blake and Julia solve their mystery about Blake's grandfather. Who are these people? Well, not to give too much away, Blake and his mother have moved in with Blake's grandfather due to his grandfather having dementia. Blake's world is turned upside with the move and all the changes, not to mention, just being a teenager. Julia is a girl he meets at his new school. She is just what he needs to get his mind on tract.

To make things more complicated for Blake's new life, he is dealing with his grandfather giving him clues and riddles that Blake has no clue what he is talking about. He sums it up to his grandfathers dementia. Then, things get worse. Blake's grandfather goes missing. Blake and Julia set out on their own investigation, hoping that the clues and riddles his grandfather gave him will help find his grandfather. Little did they know, they will also be uncovering some secrets that may put them in harms way as well.

I loved following Blake on his adventure of excepting his new life and the mysteries he unravels along the way. A great YA read! I look forward to reading more by this author.



Profile Image for Sandy.
2,791 reviews72 followers
May 11, 2015
Twenty-one year old Yosef is headed to America. After returning home from being a prisoner in a German concentration camp, he has no time to rest as his family’s heritage is the line. His family fears the worst from the dictator who is trying to take over their world so Yosef is headed with their family’s prize possessions in hope of retaining their legacy. What waits for Yosef in this land of freedom, is a remarkable adventure. There are others who encroach upon his journey; this simple yet significant task becomes tangled and complicated and before long it has become an adrenaline rush. The present day unfolds and a mother has moved back home with her aging father bringing with her, her teenage son. Grandfather likes poetry, he likes to talk to Blake, only his grandson feels that this talk is nonsense, it’s his dementia that is affecting his speech. Grandfather says he’s talking in code, creating a puzzle, giving Blake clues, only Blake doesn’t know what these clues would be for. While his mother takes grandfather to the store, grandfather waits in the car. When she returns, he is gone. The small town joins together to locate grandfather but he seems to have vanished. Was grandfather talking in code with Blake earlier? Did grandfather health play a key in his disappearance? Why did grandfather give Blake his Spanish doubloon that he treasured? Where is grandfather? Who is grandfather? Blake is determined to find his grandfather and although the town is pulling together, only a few people know how to connect the dots.
Reading about Yosef at the beginning of the novel, I thought this journey was exciting and then when the story opened up and we were brought into the present tense, the story took on another meaning. This story captured more characters, more adventures and more issues creating a colossal scheme of events. Everyone was key, no one was an extra, their lines were all important. This was an entertaining novel.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Profile Image for Dawn.
1,571 reviews19 followers
July 21, 2015
I received a free ecopy of this book for an honest review.

I have read a couple of Jeff LaFerney's books in the past, Jumper and Bulletproof, and I like his writing style so I was happy to read and review Lost and Found. It is a good mystery with some WWII history mixed in.

I like the way the characters are portrayed. The main character, Blake Nolan, is in his senior year in high school and his family has to move in order to take care of his grandpa. Immediately, I knew that Blake had to be strong to deal with it so well. His new girlfriend is interesting: to be in high school and not care what others think of her and to be so at ease with herself and others is amazing. Blake's grandpa tickled me at times. I know dementia is nothing to laugh at, especially since my grandma had it. Sometimes, though, it's better to laugh than to cry. I was also impressed that Blake and his mom didn't try to correct his grandpa, which could have made him resentful or angry.

Lost and Found is a good mystery with clues for Blake to follow that were left by his grandpa. He is hoping that by solving the mystery, it may lead him to his grandpa after he goes missing.

I definitely recommend this book. It's a good mystery with a couple surprises. At the end, Jeff LaFerney explains what was historical fact and what was fiction, which I always like.
Profile Image for C. McCarty.
Author 2 books31 followers
May 19, 2015
An excellent find!!! I'm not big on reading prologues up front, so admit I skimmed through and went to Chapter One, but did return for a thorough reading to retrieve vital information.
I instantly bonded with the Nolan/Bloom family after reading Blake Nolan had to change schools his senior year to help his mother, Deborah, care for his grandfather, Matthias Bloom, whose dementia had become problematic. Sure, lots of people walk outside in boxer shorts during December in Michigan, but Grandpa's issues were advancing beyond the threat of possible hypothermia.
LaFerney usually places heavy emphasis on sports within his novels, however this storyline focus went full throttle into an adventure brought about by puzzle pieces presented by Grandpa. Blake's uncertainty about his grandfather's state of mind, gave him pause, however when Grandpa Bloom vanished into thin air, Blake corroborated several clues with historical fact. This mystery was real, and needed to be solved before lives were lost, including his grandfather.
As a LaFerney fan, I was thrilled by his historical influence in Lost and Found, and learned much about World War II with its horrific consequence and lost legacies. All characters are well drawn, but Grandpa remains one of my favorites. Who wants eggs for dinner?
105 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2015
The book was a nice combination of Jewish history and tradition and a mystery search for the young people. With some nice surprises and a few unexpected twists it was a nice read.
I would have given it one star extra, if not for some moment that I was able to just put the book down and without thinking about it get on with the dull normal everyday tasks. But guess that makes it good that at least those are done.
Got a good idea of the two main figures Blake and Julia and the grandfather was very funny at moments.
Certainly a book to enjoy reading
Profile Image for Soni.
60 reviews9 followers
September 7, 2015
I have always enjoyed reading books regarding WWII and the perseverance and strength of the Jewish people during this time. I found this an interesting change in what I have read before. A prisoner being released and leaving for America, then switching to present day time with hidden Jewish treasures and a great grandson trying to find them from puzzles his grandfather gave him. I liked the style, the intrigue and found it a great read. Definitely looking forward to more books from this author!
1 review
April 28, 2015
Masterfully written mystery sprinkled with real life historical events. The author gently pulls you in to embrace the characters and snares your attention to the very last page. I look forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Karen Hogan.
925 reviews62 followers
September 29, 2016
Read 45 pages and lost interest in this mystery about lost treasure .
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