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Almost Gone
Twenty-Five Days and One Chance to Save Our Daughter
This is the never-before-told, riveting true story about a teenage Christian girl who was seduced online by a charming young Muslim man from Kosovo, and her father who ultimately worked with the FBI to save her from disappearing forever.
The Baldwins were a strong Christian family, living in Plano, Texas. When their seventeen-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, met Aadam in a random-match online chat room, she fell for his good looks, his charm, and his respectful conversation. He told her he lived in New York, and they began an online friendship.
But over the course of a few months, Aadam revealed that he actually lived in Kosovo and had only pretended to live in New York so Mackenzie would keep chatting with him. The more attached she became to Aadam, the more detached she became from her family.
John and Stephanie, Mackenzie’s parents, had no clue what was behind their daughter’s change in personality, her surprising interest in Islam, her suddenly modest dress, and her withdrawal from friends and family. When Mackenzie’s attachment to Aadam increased even more and they became “engaged,” she started making plans to secretly fly to Kosovo where she and Aadam would be married.
But twenty-five days before Mackenzie was scheduled to fly to Kosovo, John found out about his daughter’s dangerous plan when three of her friends came forward. John contacted the FBI, and asked for help. Though the FBI did not believe Aadam was trying to radicalize Mackenzie, they were concerned about his intentions, as that part of Kosovo was known for sex-trafficking, human-trafficking, and citizenship frauds. Kosovo was no place for an unaccompanied, naïve teenager to secretly travel and marry a stranger she knew only through online chats. Within the limited time remaining before Mackenzie’s departure, John and Stephanie had to confront Mackenzie and stop her before she would be lost to them forever.
Told from the viewpoint of both father and daughter, Almost Gone follows Mackenzie’s network of lies and deceit and her parents’ escalating bewilderment and alarm. More than a cautionary tale, this is the incredible story of unconditional parental love, unwavering faith, and how God helped a family save their daughter from a relationship that jeopardized not only her happiness, but also her safety.
This is the never-before-told, riveting true story about a teenage Christian girl who was seduced online by a charming young Muslim man from Kosovo, and her father who ultimately worked with the FBI to save her from disappearing forever.
The Baldwins were a strong Christian family, living in Plano, Texas. When their seventeen-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, met Aadam in a random-match online chat room, she fell for his good looks, his charm, and his respectful conversation. He told her he lived in New York, and they began an online friendship.
But over the course of a few months, Aadam revealed that he actually lived in Kosovo and had only pretended to live in New York so Mackenzie would keep chatting with him. The more attached she became to Aadam, the more detached she became from her family.
John and Stephanie, Mackenzie’s parents, had no clue what was behind their daughter’s change in personality, her surprising interest in Islam, her suddenly modest dress, and her withdrawal from friends and family. When Mackenzie’s attachment to Aadam increased even more and they became “engaged,” she started making plans to secretly fly to Kosovo where she and Aadam would be married.
But twenty-five days before Mackenzie was scheduled to fly to Kosovo, John found out about his daughter’s dangerous plan when three of her friends came forward. John contacted the FBI, and asked for help. Though the FBI did not believe Aadam was trying to radicalize Mackenzie, they were concerned about his intentions, as that part of Kosovo was known for sex-trafficking, human-trafficking, and citizenship frauds. Kosovo was no place for an unaccompanied, naïve teenager to secretly travel and marry a stranger she knew only through online chats. Within the limited time remaining before Mackenzie’s departure, John and Stephanie had to confront Mackenzie and stop her before she would be lost to them forever.
Told from the viewpoint of both father and daughter, Almost Gone follows Mackenzie’s network of lies and deceit and her parents’ escalating bewilderment and alarm. More than a cautionary tale, this is the incredible story of unconditional parental love, unwavering faith, and how God helped a family save their daughter from a relationship that jeopardized not only her happiness, but also her safety.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2017
78 people are currently reading
734 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 26, 2017
Not a very compelling story, and the focus of the book was John Baldwin's obsession with his failures as a Christian father to raise an obedient Baptist daughter. Although Mackenzie, his daughter, was at risk of harm and injury had she continued with her plans to meet an online boyfriend in Kosovo, I didn't appreciate how this book demonized Islam and portrayed it as a misogynistic, backwards, and bad religion- all from a man (John) who admits to knowing almost nothing about the religion. I'm going to throw out my copy- don't even want to donate it lest someone else read this demonizing portrayal of Islam in the context of a frankly disturbing story about a father's struggle to control his daughter (even given the need for intervention in this case, given his daughter's potentially dangerous trip to Kosovo).
November 22, 2017
Almost Gone: Twenty Five Days and One Chance To Save Our Daughter by John and Mackenzie Baldwin is the riveting true story of an 18 year old Christian girl who was targeted online by a charming young Muslim man from Kosovo, and her father who worked with the FBI on saving her from disappearing forever.
Alternately told from the viewpoint of both father and daughter, Almost Gone follows the drastic change in Mackenzie over a short period of time. Lies and deceit lead to her parents becoming perplexed and alarmed.
It is with unconditional love for their daughter, unshakable faith and the assistance of friends, family and the FBI that saved this story from becoming a tragedy.
An eye opening must read for not only parents but teenagers as well!
Thank you to NetGalley and Howard Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Alternately told from the viewpoint of both father and daughter, Almost Gone follows the drastic change in Mackenzie over a short period of time. Lies and deceit lead to her parents becoming perplexed and alarmed.
It is with unconditional love for their daughter, unshakable faith and the assistance of friends, family and the FBI that saved this story from becoming a tragedy.
An eye opening must read for not only parents but teenagers as well!
Thank you to NetGalley and Howard Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
November 22, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an unbiased review.
If there was an option for zero stars, that's what I would have given this book, but it's not a choice... so one star it is.
I feel the need to point out, before really delving into my review of this book, two things. One, I am a Christian. Two, I am not a parent.
ALMOST GONE is the story of Christian extremists John and Stephanie Baldwin attempting to imprison their adult child, Mackenzie, under the guise of "saving her" because she met someone online and converted religions to be with him.
Please, don't misunderstand. I know they were doing what they felt was best. My issues arose when they refused to learn ANYTHING about a religion John spent the entire book bashing. He also spent much time talking about how Kosovo was a hub of human trafficking. Mr. Baldwin, did you know that according to Google, there is more per capita human trafficking in your fine state of Texas than there is in Kosovo? Just wanted to point that out.
Mackenzie is right, in the beginning of the story... she doesn't know where she'd be if she'd continued down the path she was on. I'm not saying there was no risk...our federal tax dollars that went into two FBI agents becoming a fixture in the story did find some details that made it look like Aadam wanted a green card. But because the story never played out, all one can do is speculate.
Forcing your 18 year old to accept only the religion you raised her in is sickening. Hiding her passport so she can't leave you is imprisoning. And putting a tracking device in her vehicle without her knowledge is stalking. But I'm glad you can sleep at night because you did all these things to keep her right with Jesus.
If there was an option for zero stars, that's what I would have given this book, but it's not a choice... so one star it is.
I feel the need to point out, before really delving into my review of this book, two things. One, I am a Christian. Two, I am not a parent.
ALMOST GONE is the story of Christian extremists John and Stephanie Baldwin attempting to imprison their adult child, Mackenzie, under the guise of "saving her" because she met someone online and converted religions to be with him.
Please, don't misunderstand. I know they were doing what they felt was best. My issues arose when they refused to learn ANYTHING about a religion John spent the entire book bashing. He also spent much time talking about how Kosovo was a hub of human trafficking. Mr. Baldwin, did you know that according to Google, there is more per capita human trafficking in your fine state of Texas than there is in Kosovo? Just wanted to point that out.
Mackenzie is right, in the beginning of the story... she doesn't know where she'd be if she'd continued down the path she was on. I'm not saying there was no risk...our federal tax dollars that went into two FBI agents becoming a fixture in the story did find some details that made it look like Aadam wanted a green card. But because the story never played out, all one can do is speculate.
Forcing your 18 year old to accept only the religion you raised her in is sickening. Hiding her passport so she can't leave you is imprisoning. And putting a tracking device in her vehicle without her knowledge is stalking. But I'm glad you can sleep at night because you did all these things to keep her right with Jesus.
December 1, 2017
This should be a book about teenagers and social media, internet safety, and the dangers that can come with meeting people online. But it wasn't. I get it, this is a Christian book and faith is very important to the family. I'm a Christian so it didn't bother me that the book had religious tones but their faith and their daughter's conversion to another religion took too much of the time. The book paints the Muslim man on the other side of the world as this man who is intent in doing violent and harmful things to their daughter when really it seems that the guy was just looking to get American citizenship. Which happens every day by people of ALL religions. Yes he scammed their daughter and there is a very important lesson here but it feels like they just skim over that part of it in favour of promoting their religion over another.
January 19, 2018
While the book is mainly about saving a young woman from what definitely seemed like an unhealthy, frightening relationship—I had a huge problem with the obvious religious bashing prevalent in the book. Having met many Muslims and been to a mosque a couple of times, the majority I know are supportive, kindhearted, and intelligent people. While the mosque that the daughter went to seemed like it was too permissive in giving her advice in leaving the country, I also understand that she wasn’t entirely truthful with them about her relationship (she admits to lying and saying they were engaged long before it happened) and they never had the whole story. You can’t demonize them for what they didn’t know—especially in regards to a legal adult (she was 18).
And the parents? Way too controlling. They complained about her lying and manipulating them while she was hiding her relationship and then they bring in the FBI behind her back, steal her passport, GPS her car, and lie to her repeatedly. She asks them why the FBI know where she was when she left for the mosque, and they let her believe that they were following her rather than say, ‘We GPSed your car.’ So the dysfunctional relationship wasn’t only between daughter and boyfriend, but daughter and parent as well.
While I’m definitely happy she wasn’t sold into slavery or used for obtaining citizenship, the whole book left a bad taste in my mouth.
And the parents? Way too controlling. They complained about her lying and manipulating them while she was hiding her relationship and then they bring in the FBI behind her back, steal her passport, GPS her car, and lie to her repeatedly. She asks them why the FBI know where she was when she left for the mosque, and they let her believe that they were following her rather than say, ‘We GPSed your car.’ So the dysfunctional relationship wasn’t only between daughter and boyfriend, but daughter and parent as well.
While I’m definitely happy she wasn’t sold into slavery or used for obtaining citizenship, the whole book left a bad taste in my mouth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2017
Very clearly told by the principle three people it cored: father, mother, daughter.
All three were honest and detailed the minutia of time and mindset of each period during that 18th year of their daughter's life, perfectly. 5 star.
But the amount of repetition and the, for me anyway, lacks of explaining how that period of time of such intensive SKYPE use was not known or experienced as "happening" by the parents (both of them) when it was?? Could never happen in my house or any of my kids' houses that are parents. That much "separate" time with no interchange of an oversee, even accidentally, and/or the isolation of having hours and hours of continual privacy and the setting to accomplish such an ongoing situation? Yes, young people can be "not sharing" but this is an allowance on the parental side that just would never happen in great majority of the people I know who ARE parents. This kind of given entitlement to "my space" is just not part of the family scenario. Not even with the most secretive and singular/apart or disabled teen would that just go on and on with a closed door.
So that kind of "respect" for the daughter's room/ placement situation of private/separate sacrosanct space- was, for my reading, just not addressed in this book as it absolutely should have been considered the entire amount of discussion that went on about doctrine and other issues of who her present "group" or "friends from school" were. Also the entitlement to the "gap year" which I consider complete elitist nonsense in raising children would be something else never addressed as an issue here and is core to some of these same "perceptions" that made the terrible situation absolutely possible. The daughter's world view and mindset were such that this is what she was entitled to receive. Just by being their offspring and not because of anything she earned or any consequence of choices along the way either. TERRIBLE parenting, IMHO. And I know many disagree. And also many of those are crying over lost humans. A lesson of act/effort= consequences is never really cognitive for some teens. Or now in 1st world societies, "teens" that are 30 or 38 or 42.
But the rest of this is explained in an excellent detailing to the sequence of events with the people from the Mosque, the FBI, and the last internet exchanges. Plus the entire process of getting her addiction, and that's exactly what it is too, under a cure path.
There were some real signposts here if the parents have had better "eyes" for the personality involved too. DO I KNOW IT! Been there. A child who has held stubborn behaviors of strong likes and dislikes from toddler hood and displays this exact type of "all in" for a cause when a 9 or 10 year old (even to being a fanatic for one celeb or sport or club) in relationship to the spurning or belittling of all else but "the favorite" activity or entertainment. BIG CLUE! And the parents stayed quiet and worried without a much stronger investigation and inquiry with her- way, way too long. Also an added feature is that change in mood of address to the others in the house- big signpost. Especially when coupled with the fact of not having "outside" the house group or dating or girlfriend patterns.
In this current period, the parents have to know who and what and where all those computer hours are going to. Even those who are past 18 and live in my house, just one of the "house rules" needed in the world we live in. Social media fingers reach everywhere and it's as necessary as a lock on your door or a passport when you travel. Because without either of those, it is just a matter of time.
And do not pay attention to those reviews here which states this denigrates Islam. In fact, it did just the opposite - so those persons who note that must not have read this at all is my guess. The Amin from the Mosque was very helpful in bridging that "path" change. And finding out some real information about our pal in Kosovo too. If anything, I think it went way too far in being "kind" to the Muslim participants in the story. Because the person who she meet the most there at the Mosque was not as open as she should have been with others about it, especially because of the requests for airplane ticket money and procedure.
This is a perfect example of how three "outsiders" saved a life and a family. They heard this girl's "voice" and mindset determination at heart and "snitched" to her Mom in detail about her plans. It was difficult to do. Good for them. Most likely, in just a matter of days, they would have lost her to a void. That area is one of two that controls flow of sex slavery and worse. Yes, there is worse. And it was great that the 3 authors of input gave credit to those girls and dedication of the publication.
I cannot believe than anyone who has been on this Earth for 16 or 17 or 18 years can be this naive.
Please teach your children practical application skills and what humans do in the world. This kind of protection IS child abuse to me. Like raising lambs for slaughter.
This is easy, easy read. You can read it in an hour or two.
And it little matters WHAT our Lothario's purpose was because of the way this was conducted. It could have been a scam for citizenship or anything else from soup to nuts that would have occurred. ALL BAD as she had never meet him nor did she know anything at all about the "other end" for any practical application of a life's purpose.
All three were honest and detailed the minutia of time and mindset of each period during that 18th year of their daughter's life, perfectly. 5 star.
But the amount of repetition and the, for me anyway, lacks of explaining how that period of time of such intensive SKYPE use was not known or experienced as "happening" by the parents (both of them) when it was?? Could never happen in my house or any of my kids' houses that are parents. That much "separate" time with no interchange of an oversee, even accidentally, and/or the isolation of having hours and hours of continual privacy and the setting to accomplish such an ongoing situation? Yes, young people can be "not sharing" but this is an allowance on the parental side that just would never happen in great majority of the people I know who ARE parents. This kind of given entitlement to "my space" is just not part of the family scenario. Not even with the most secretive and singular/apart or disabled teen would that just go on and on with a closed door.
So that kind of "respect" for the daughter's room/ placement situation of private/separate sacrosanct space- was, for my reading, just not addressed in this book as it absolutely should have been considered the entire amount of discussion that went on about doctrine and other issues of who her present "group" or "friends from school" were. Also the entitlement to the "gap year" which I consider complete elitist nonsense in raising children would be something else never addressed as an issue here and is core to some of these same "perceptions" that made the terrible situation absolutely possible. The daughter's world view and mindset were such that this is what she was entitled to receive. Just by being their offspring and not because of anything she earned or any consequence of choices along the way either. TERRIBLE parenting, IMHO. And I know many disagree. And also many of those are crying over lost humans. A lesson of act/effort= consequences is never really cognitive for some teens. Or now in 1st world societies, "teens" that are 30 or 38 or 42.
But the rest of this is explained in an excellent detailing to the sequence of events with the people from the Mosque, the FBI, and the last internet exchanges. Plus the entire process of getting her addiction, and that's exactly what it is too, under a cure path.
There were some real signposts here if the parents have had better "eyes" for the personality involved too. DO I KNOW IT! Been there. A child who has held stubborn behaviors of strong likes and dislikes from toddler hood and displays this exact type of "all in" for a cause when a 9 or 10 year old (even to being a fanatic for one celeb or sport or club) in relationship to the spurning or belittling of all else but "the favorite" activity or entertainment. BIG CLUE! And the parents stayed quiet and worried without a much stronger investigation and inquiry with her- way, way too long. Also an added feature is that change in mood of address to the others in the house- big signpost. Especially when coupled with the fact of not having "outside" the house group or dating or girlfriend patterns.
In this current period, the parents have to know who and what and where all those computer hours are going to. Even those who are past 18 and live in my house, just one of the "house rules" needed in the world we live in. Social media fingers reach everywhere and it's as necessary as a lock on your door or a passport when you travel. Because without either of those, it is just a matter of time.
And do not pay attention to those reviews here which states this denigrates Islam. In fact, it did just the opposite - so those persons who note that must not have read this at all is my guess. The Amin from the Mosque was very helpful in bridging that "path" change. And finding out some real information about our pal in Kosovo too. If anything, I think it went way too far in being "kind" to the Muslim participants in the story. Because the person who she meet the most there at the Mosque was not as open as she should have been with others about it, especially because of the requests for airplane ticket money and procedure.
This is a perfect example of how three "outsiders" saved a life and a family. They heard this girl's "voice" and mindset determination at heart and "snitched" to her Mom in detail about her plans. It was difficult to do. Good for them. Most likely, in just a matter of days, they would have lost her to a void. That area is one of two that controls flow of sex slavery and worse. Yes, there is worse. And it was great that the 3 authors of input gave credit to those girls and dedication of the publication.
I cannot believe than anyone who has been on this Earth for 16 or 17 or 18 years can be this naive.
Please teach your children practical application skills and what humans do in the world. This kind of protection IS child abuse to me. Like raising lambs for slaughter.
This is easy, easy read. You can read it in an hour or two.
And it little matters WHAT our Lothario's purpose was because of the way this was conducted. It could have been a scam for citizenship or anything else from soup to nuts that would have occurred. ALL BAD as she had never meet him nor did she know anything at all about the "other end" for any practical application of a life's purpose.
October 30, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
Mack is the daughter of a very close knit Christian family from Texas. She becomes involved with a young man over a social network site who is from Kosova. She quickly falls in love with him and gets drawn into a relationship with him. Mack starts to draw away from her parents and younger brothers and starts to study Islam. Her parents are very involved with their Church and are horrified by this. Mack soon under the influence of her boyfriend converts to Islam and has a whole life her family know nothing about.
This book is told in alternating POV's between Mack and her father John. John is obviously an extremely involved parent as is his wife. The desperation he felt is apparent as he details how they found out that their beloved daughter had made plans to travel to Kosovo to get married.
Mack's chapters are a little more detached until she finally comes to terms with the fact she has been manipulated and could actually be in grave danger.
I am not a religious person and this book goes into great detail about the family and their relationship with God. What kept me interested was the reality of how easy it is to groom an obviously smart but vulnerable person. We read about it every day and it is is terrifying how close this girl came to being a statistic.
Mack is the daughter of a very close knit Christian family from Texas. She becomes involved with a young man over a social network site who is from Kosova. She quickly falls in love with him and gets drawn into a relationship with him. Mack starts to draw away from her parents and younger brothers and starts to study Islam. Her parents are very involved with their Church and are horrified by this. Mack soon under the influence of her boyfriend converts to Islam and has a whole life her family know nothing about.
This book is told in alternating POV's between Mack and her father John. John is obviously an extremely involved parent as is his wife. The desperation he felt is apparent as he details how they found out that their beloved daughter had made plans to travel to Kosovo to get married.
Mack's chapters are a little more detached until she finally comes to terms with the fact she has been manipulated and could actually be in grave danger.
I am not a religious person and this book goes into great detail about the family and their relationship with God. What kept me interested was the reality of how easy it is to groom an obviously smart but vulnerable person. We read about it every day and it is is terrifying how close this girl came to being a statistic.
November 27, 2017
I would say my biggest complaint is that this book spews a lot of conjecture with no evidence to support it's claim. The authors claim to try to be warning other parents - i mean, who knew that flying across the world to meet a guy that you've known only through the internet is a bad idea (Duh -
like everyone? ) Claiming that this guy has been meticulously planning to lure this girl to Kosovo to be apart of a sex trafficking ring with no evidence is pure nonsense. Much of the publicity from the media is based on this falsehood. I honestly don't know why the guy being Muslim has any meaning to the story at all. If your goal was lure Christian American girls for the purpose of sex trafficking, then why tell them you are Muslim? Why ask them to convert?? Why string it out over a year??? On top of that - this guy wants a greencard - all part of his master plan!! If i were to be honest, it appears this is about exploiting this girl's stupidity with some added drama - all in the name of the almighty dollar.....
like everyone? ) Claiming that this guy has been meticulously planning to lure this girl to Kosovo to be apart of a sex trafficking ring with no evidence is pure nonsense. Much of the publicity from the media is based on this falsehood. I honestly don't know why the guy being Muslim has any meaning to the story at all. If your goal was lure Christian American girls for the purpose of sex trafficking, then why tell them you are Muslim? Why ask them to convert?? Why string it out over a year??? On top of that - this guy wants a greencard - all part of his master plan!! If i were to be honest, it appears this is about exploiting this girl's stupidity with some added drama - all in the name of the almighty dollar.....
February 20, 2018
A fine look at Christian sharia, nothing more.
April 24, 2018
Compelling and must-read for those with adolescents or even young adults. I think young adults and adolescents would benefit from reading it, too. It’s an easy read since it’s told as if the authors are speaking to you, and I believe they are speaking to their readers in the hopes that what nearly happened to them doesn’t happen to others.
Read
December 18, 2017I read this on the recommendation of a friend, and I confess it's not a book I would have thought to pick up myself. Yet once I heard what it was about, I was intrigued. The daughter in this book--a high school senior in Texas--is more or less seduced online by a man in Kosovo. She secretly plans to run away to meet this man in Kosovo right after her high school graduation. Her parents catch wind of the plan and the book is about trying to keep her in America.
As a mother, I was fascinated by how easily the girl was beguiled by a man so far away, and it has made me more alert in terms of my own children. Yet the book is extremely religious--the family is extremely devout Christian and part of the parents' issue stems from when the daughter converts to Islam. The tone of the discussion of religion was--to me--a little off-putting. I felt that Islam as a whole was being unfairly maligned because of this incident. And there was a great deal of faith in the book that I respect, but could not relate to.
Overall, though, the message in this book is an important one, and I'm glad I read it.
As a mother, I was fascinated by how easily the girl was beguiled by a man so far away, and it has made me more alert in terms of my own children. Yet the book is extremely religious--the family is extremely devout Christian and part of the parents' issue stems from when the daughter converts to Islam. The tone of the discussion of religion was--to me--a little off-putting. I felt that Islam as a whole was being unfairly maligned because of this incident. And there was a great deal of faith in the book that I respect, but could not relate to.
Overall, though, the message in this book is an important one, and I'm glad I read it.
October 25, 2017
I cannot imagine going through what the Baldwin family went through and I commend them for sharing their story of daughter Mackenzie's secret plan to fly to Kosovo to marry Aadam, a young man from that country whom she met on an online dating chat room and became very attached to. I liked the way the story was told in the viewpoints of the father, John, and by Mackenzie. One can feel the anguish the parents were going through in trying to keep Mackenzie from leaving, and we can see from Mackenzie's telling of her story how a young girl can easily be manipulated. Online chatting with strangers is a very scary thing and this true story is one that should be read by anyone with a teenage daughter.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 28, 2024
A true story that was tough to read at times, but a good reminder to appreciate those who love and cherish you.
October 16, 2023
Sad, shocking, and sickening. While the writing style itself was not incredibly professional or strong, the story itself was incredibly gripping and hard to put down. I'd like to say that I read the whole thing in one day, but I technically was too tired to finish before bed, and had to read the last four or five pages when I got up this morning.
I would highly recommend this book to parents with teenage children, especially daughters. It is so easy to get tricked online, so easy to fall for sweet words and a fairy tale storyline that you forget to take precautions and get yourself into a lot of trouble. I'm always wary of people I meet online. Perhaps because I had a father in law-enforcement or because I've been that lying stranger in the chat room. Now, my reasons were far more innocent. I wanted to be a writer, so to help learn to write realistic dialogue for different types of characters, my friend and I would go online and pretend to be someone we were not, whether it was a middle-aged man, a teenage girl, or even a character from a book or show, like Mycroft Holmes or Hannibal Lecter.
And people believed me! They believed that I was just another teen like them, or that my age and wisdom would mean that I could give advice on jobs or relationships, thinking that I was 45 and divorced, when I was really 23, unemployed, and single. But, I didn't have any ulterior motives. I wasn't trying to hurt or trap anyone, and as soon as the conversation ended, I was back to being me. I can only imagine how easy it is for a predator to groom someone to falling for them, leaving the country for them, or doing something else that is incredibly stupid and irresponsible, because they think they are in love with some wonderful person they met online.
Scary stuff! And it just got worse and worse and worse! By the end, I was at the edge of my seat, jaw dropping, complete shock. A fascinating, fast-paced read.
I would highly recommend this book to parents with teenage children, especially daughters. It is so easy to get tricked online, so easy to fall for sweet words and a fairy tale storyline that you forget to take precautions and get yourself into a lot of trouble. I'm always wary of people I meet online. Perhaps because I had a father in law-enforcement or because I've been that lying stranger in the chat room. Now, my reasons were far more innocent. I wanted to be a writer, so to help learn to write realistic dialogue for different types of characters, my friend and I would go online and pretend to be someone we were not, whether it was a middle-aged man, a teenage girl, or even a character from a book or show, like Mycroft Holmes or Hannibal Lecter.
And people believed me! They believed that I was just another teen like them, or that my age and wisdom would mean that I could give advice on jobs or relationships, thinking that I was 45 and divorced, when I was really 23, unemployed, and single. But, I didn't have any ulterior motives. I wasn't trying to hurt or trap anyone, and as soon as the conversation ended, I was back to being me. I can only imagine how easy it is for a predator to groom someone to falling for them, leaving the country for them, or doing something else that is incredibly stupid and irresponsible, because they think they are in love with some wonderful person they met online.
Scary stuff! And it just got worse and worse and worse! By the end, I was at the edge of my seat, jaw dropping, complete shock. A fascinating, fast-paced read.
November 4, 2017
This is a true story about a loving Christian family who almost lost their 18 year old daughter to a man she met on the internet. The story is told in alternating chapters by the father, John, and his daughter Mackenzie. The Baldwin family had always been a strong Christian family who spent a lot of time together. As her senior year in high school was starting, Mackenzie started to pull away from the rest of the family and questioning her faith as she wanted to learn more about Islam. Her parents had no idea what was going on with her and by the time they found out, it was almost too late to save her. She had started talking to a young man, Aadam who despite telling her at first that he lived in NYC, actually lived in Kosovo. He encouraged her to learn more about Islam and as time went on became very controlling of her life. She was planning to run away from home and meet him in Kosovo because she couldn't imagine life without him. When her parents found out from several of her girlfriends, they had less than a month to save their daughter from leaving the country to marry someone she had never met. This book is about their struggle and is a real warning for parents whose children spend time on social media. Everyone is not who they pretend to be on the internet and parents need to be vigilant about what their children are doing on social media. This was a scary story but one that I'm afraid happens way too often.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own
I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own
December 16, 2017
Have you ever read a book that you knew was really important? A book that could save lives? “Almost Gone” is a compelling true story, a must-read cautionary book for parents and teenagers. I was shocked to learn there are over 20.9 million sex trafficking victims globally. This story hits close to home.
Mackenzie Baldwin and her father, John describe what happened within their Christian family after Mack innocently met Aadam through a social media site while over at a friend’s house. For months, Mack continued secretly corresponding with Aadam while he slowly attempted to persuade her to go to Kosovo (a country known for trafficking) to become his bride. The strong willed and independent teen became withdrawn from her family and isolated from her friends, aloof, a loner. Mack’s attitude toward her religion, her relationships, and priorities shifted. The Baldwins knew something was happening with their daughter but were at a loss to know what had happened.
Mack was prepared to leave her family, friends and life as she knew it to move to Kosovo and if friends had not come forward, if her parents had not been so vigilante, had the FBI not come to her house 3 days before she was to leave, this story might have had a much different ending.
I received an advance review copy of this book from Great Thoughts Ninjas. All opinions are my own.
Mackenzie Baldwin and her father, John describe what happened within their Christian family after Mack innocently met Aadam through a social media site while over at a friend’s house. For months, Mack continued secretly corresponding with Aadam while he slowly attempted to persuade her to go to Kosovo (a country known for trafficking) to become his bride. The strong willed and independent teen became withdrawn from her family and isolated from her friends, aloof, a loner. Mack’s attitude toward her religion, her relationships, and priorities shifted. The Baldwins knew something was happening with their daughter but were at a loss to know what had happened.
Mack was prepared to leave her family, friends and life as she knew it to move to Kosovo and if friends had not come forward, if her parents had not been so vigilante, had the FBI not come to her house 3 days before she was to leave, this story might have had a much different ending.
I received an advance review copy of this book from Great Thoughts Ninjas. All opinions are my own.
January 16, 2018
This was interesting just because it was based on a real life almost tragedy. Although the main point behind this story was how an 18 year old girl was deceived for a year by someone she met online and "fell in love with" but also how she deceived her strict parents for that same year and was able to have this relationship with this man even though her parents had rules for internet use and social media accounts. Goes to show that you can't always have everything covered 100% because a determined teen will sneak things past you. One thing I didn't care too much for was the fact that this story was supposed to be based on internet dangers and how she almost ran off to a foreign country with this stranger yet throughout the entire thing you hear mostly about religion. How one was preferred over the other and how one was right and one was wrong and it steered away from the actual story line of deception, secrecy, and failures. In a way it left me wanting more. Like how did she end contact with him? Did he continue to pursue her or did he let go as soon as she did? I was just full of questions. And so many times I asked her HOW CAN YOU BE SO DUMB? And then I put myself at her age and remember all of the risky things I did but as a parent you can't help but want to strangle her until she has some sense.
March 20, 2018
Parents (John and Stephanie) saved daughter (Mackenzie) after she was targeted by a dishonorable Muslim man.
When 17 year old Mackenzie first met Aadam on a social media site, she had no idea what she was getting herself into. Could he really be as evil as her parents, and the FBI, said he was? Just because he lived in Kosovo, the capital of sex trafficking, did that automatically make him a suspicious character? How was Aadam able to manipulate headstrong, independent Mackenzie so quickly and so deeply? Are there signs to look out for in your own children that would make them fall for a similar scenario?
I was fascinated by this true story co-written by Mackenzie, the daughter who was "brainwashed" by a young Muslim man and her father, John, who helped save her before she was "Almost Gone" from their family forever. Hopefully, by sharing their story, others can learn from Mackenzie's mistakes.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free advance copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Megyn Kelly Interview
When 17 year old Mackenzie first met Aadam on a social media site, she had no idea what she was getting herself into. Could he really be as evil as her parents, and the FBI, said he was? Just because he lived in Kosovo, the capital of sex trafficking, did that automatically make him a suspicious character? How was Aadam able to manipulate headstrong, independent Mackenzie so quickly and so deeply? Are there signs to look out for in your own children that would make them fall for a similar scenario?
I was fascinated by this true story co-written by Mackenzie, the daughter who was "brainwashed" by a young Muslim man and her father, John, who helped save her before she was "Almost Gone" from their family forever. Hopefully, by sharing their story, others can learn from Mackenzie's mistakes.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free advance copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Megyn Kelly Interview
April 30, 2018
Interesting true story of religious fanaticism told alternately from the viewpoint of John, the father and Mackenzie, the daughter. It is the story of a teenage Christian girl who begins talking to Aalan, a young Muslim living in Kosova on the internet. She becomes interested in his faith and is planning a trip to Kosova to meet him. As MacKenzies behavior changes and she withdraws from her family and friends, reading Islamic books and videos and spending hours talking to Aalan via computer. This is where the book falls apart, for me. Johns Islamic rants and misogynistic portrayal of Muslims is disturbing and hard to swallow. The point of teenagers lured away by strangers online is valid and important but is list in the hate filled rants about a religion he admits he knows nothing about, and Aalan, a guy he knows nothing about.
Disturbing. ...Biased....Good Story
Disturbing. ...Biased....Good Story
October 18, 2017
I received an advanced review copy of this book from The Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own. This book needs to be read by everyone. In this day and age of technology we have to be super vigilant in what teenagers see and do on the internet. It's too easy to let them fall through the cracks and not follow up on what they are doing. I see my beautiful head strong niece in Mac and I cheered in the bravery that it took in telling her story. I see how easily how this could be my niece in ten years. Pick up a copy and read it. It's an important eye opener that needs to be read. It could so easily be your daughter, niece or cousin.
March 25, 2020
Not only was this book extremely prejudiced... But wtf? How was this little white girl a victim in any of this? At her big age she couldn't just block him???!! Makes no sense lol. If this girl was any other color and her parents were in any other tax bracket it would've been a different story. This was extremely extremely extremely privileged
February 6, 2018
Just confirms the fact that my daughters may not ever be allowed to use social media as teenagers. Scary stuff. Job well done to these parents for acting on a possibly very bad decision that their daughter was about to make.
July 14, 2025
There are a lot of disconcerting things that happen in this book and a high school girl plotting to travel to Kosovo to meet up with her online boyfriend is pretty far down the list.
August 3, 2022
Good book kind of slow though with no surprising parts
September 1, 2021
Incredible story of a local girl here in North Texas (same town where I work) and how in her last year of high school she got involved in an online secret relationship with a man from Kosovo, converted to Islam, was ready to leave her family, friends and everything she had in America for this new love.
Thankfully her friends told of the secret scheme and the parents were able to stop this plan that was headed for disaster.
The story is told from two perspectives, the dad, and the daughter which is fascinating to hear them recount specific interactions and see/feel so differently about them.
As a father of two early teen girls, this story scares me to death thinking this could happen to us. The Christian/Islam thread to all this is also a fascinating issue the parents dealt with as leaders of their local church and dealing with the local Masque and its believers. Having been given great advice and dang supernatural happenstance to direct the story in the right direction, where the outcome could have been very different.
Whatever path your child takes, never stop loving and supporting then, even if you must refuse to condone their choices. Great read. Not fun, but interesting, scary, and reminder how precious our children are.
Thankfully her friends told of the secret scheme and the parents were able to stop this plan that was headed for disaster.
The story is told from two perspectives, the dad, and the daughter which is fascinating to hear them recount specific interactions and see/feel so differently about them.
As a father of two early teen girls, this story scares me to death thinking this could happen to us. The Christian/Islam thread to all this is also a fascinating issue the parents dealt with as leaders of their local church and dealing with the local Masque and its believers. Having been given great advice and dang supernatural happenstance to direct the story in the right direction, where the outcome could have been very different.
Whatever path your child takes, never stop loving and supporting then, even if you must refuse to condone their choices. Great read. Not fun, but interesting, scary, and reminder how precious our children are.
April 25, 2025
3.5 stars rounding to four. A cautionary tale filled with hope.
June 29, 2019
Totally awesome!
This book was so well written ! I could not put it down. The internet is so wonderful today,but so scary too. You can see how easy it is to create a relationship and be totally brainwashed. I would recommend this book to anyone. Many thanks to the author s for sharing this book.
This book was so well written ! I could not put it down. The internet is so wonderful today,but so scary too. You can see how easy it is to create a relationship and be totally brainwashed. I would recommend this book to anyone. Many thanks to the author s for sharing this book.
November 18, 2021
I picked this book up at my library's used book sale based in the cover. What a mistake.
Basically a rich white Christian family wasn't perfect for a year, so felt like they needed to write a book about their "problem" to warn other people. There are people in the world that have actual problems; this family should live with them for awhile. Their "problem" was that their daughter was going to convert to a different religion.
This was the most offensive book I have ever read. The dad admits to not knowing anything about the Muslim culture or the Islamic religion, yet he talks about them like he's an expert. A note to the dad: Not all Muslim men beat their wives. Not all Muslim women stay home to take care of the kids and housework. Not all Muslim women stand outside a restaurant while their husbands are inside enjoying a meal. Not all Muslims are in arranged marriages. Not all Muslim women wear hijabs or a full body veil. Not all Muslims are trying to covert people to their religion as part of a big sex trafficking scheme.
The only people in this story that were controlling were the parents. But yet they had to blame everyone else when their daughter wanted a little independence and go her own path. And they actually got the FBI involved to "protect America!" What a great way to spend our tax dollars.
The most riveting, nail-biting part was when the dad thought he was going to have to step down as Deacon of his church or change churches all together because he wasn't raising all his family members in the Christian faith. (Spoiler alert: He was able to stay on as Deacon. Phew! That was a close one).
The only reason why I finished the book is because 1. I kept thinking something was actually going to happen, and 2. I couldn't rate a book I didn't finish.
I'm actually going to throw this book away just to get it out of circulation. Please do not waste your time with this one.
Basically a rich white Christian family wasn't perfect for a year, so felt like they needed to write a book about their "problem" to warn other people. There are people in the world that have actual problems; this family should live with them for awhile. Their "problem" was that their daughter was going to convert to a different religion.
This was the most offensive book I have ever read. The dad admits to not knowing anything about the Muslim culture or the Islamic religion, yet he talks about them like he's an expert. A note to the dad: Not all Muslim men beat their wives. Not all Muslim women stay home to take care of the kids and housework. Not all Muslim women stand outside a restaurant while their husbands are inside enjoying a meal. Not all Muslims are in arranged marriages. Not all Muslim women wear hijabs or a full body veil. Not all Muslims are trying to covert people to their religion as part of a big sex trafficking scheme.
The only people in this story that were controlling were the parents. But yet they had to blame everyone else when their daughter wanted a little independence and go her own path. And they actually got the FBI involved to "protect America!" What a great way to spend our tax dollars.
The most riveting, nail-biting part was when the dad thought he was going to have to step down as Deacon of his church or change churches all together because he wasn't raising all his family members in the Christian faith. (Spoiler alert: He was able to stay on as Deacon. Phew! That was a close one).
The only reason why I finished the book is because 1. I kept thinking something was actually going to happen, and 2. I couldn't rate a book I didn't finish.
I'm actually going to throw this book away just to get it out of circulation. Please do not waste your time with this one.
October 5, 2017
As a mom to two young girls, this book gripped me. I was in full anxiety mode the entire time. I cannot imagine the turmoil John and Stephanie went through trying to save their daughter. Mack was so young, so headstrong, so SURE that Aadam was a good guy. But what do you really know about someone you meet online and have never truly met?
To come to find that your daughter is planning on running away is one thing. To find out that she is engaged to some manboy and planning to run to a foreign land known for sex trafficking, organ harvesting and the desire to do ANYTHING for US citizenship is downright terrifying. What do you do? She’s 18. She’s an adult. If she wants to convert to Islam, she’s allowed. If she wants to leave the country, unfortunately- she’s allowed. But when you know, you just KNOW your child is in danger, you will do anything on God’s green earth to get her back. Even if it means getting the FBI involved. Because you only have 25 days before she’s gone.
MacKenzie, sweet girl, I wanted to ring your neck with how stubborn you were in this book. But you were so young, so naïve. You experienced infatuation to a dangerous degree. Putting Christianity vs. Islamic faith aside, you were in deep. And for not the love and determination of your parents, who knows where you would be today.
All parents need to have this book and keep it handy. It shows that no matter what you do, no one, no family, is perfect. If you find yourself with a stubborn, willful woman (or man) child, have them read this as well. Truly a moving and thought provoking read. Thank you to the Baldwins for sharing your story.
Thank you also to the Great Thoughts Ninja Team for the honor of reading and reviewing this book. All opinions are my own.
To come to find that your daughter is planning on running away is one thing. To find out that she is engaged to some manboy and planning to run to a foreign land known for sex trafficking, organ harvesting and the desire to do ANYTHING for US citizenship is downright terrifying. What do you do? She’s 18. She’s an adult. If she wants to convert to Islam, she’s allowed. If she wants to leave the country, unfortunately- she’s allowed. But when you know, you just KNOW your child is in danger, you will do anything on God’s green earth to get her back. Even if it means getting the FBI involved. Because you only have 25 days before she’s gone.
MacKenzie, sweet girl, I wanted to ring your neck with how stubborn you were in this book. But you were so young, so naïve. You experienced infatuation to a dangerous degree. Putting Christianity vs. Islamic faith aside, you were in deep. And for not the love and determination of your parents, who knows where you would be today.
All parents need to have this book and keep it handy. It shows that no matter what you do, no one, no family, is perfect. If you find yourself with a stubborn, willful woman (or man) child, have them read this as well. Truly a moving and thought provoking read. Thank you to the Baldwins for sharing your story.
Thank you also to the Great Thoughts Ninja Team for the honor of reading and reviewing this book. All opinions are my own.
February 8, 2018
This is the story of an 18 year old high school Christian girl who develops an online relationship with a Muslim man in Kosovo and ultimately plans to run away (to Kosovo) and marry him. All of this occurs without her parents' knowledge. (Which was really hard to wrap my mind around.) She leaves Christianity and converts to Islam, gets a P.O. Box for her mail, gets a passport and has tricks for how to avoid her parents' monitoring and filtering. It's the stuff movies are made of. The FBI gets involved, the parents place GPS on her car so they can see if she is driving to the airport, and it really is crazy and scary that a girl can be convinced these are good ideas.
I read this in 2 sittings. It was a very quick read and definitely pulled me in. I'm not convinced the "boyfriend" had criminal intentions in his relationship, but I can see that as a parent this would be absolutely terrifying to find out your daughter were running away like that. I'm actually quite surprised that they were able to get the FBI involved (thankfully they did!) I don't really get how the parents couldn't have known she was having a relationship based on how often she was talking to and Skyping the guy. (Didn't they wonder what she was doing on her phone/computer for hours and hours a day? The father was very concerned about her leaving Christianity and I would've thought a parent would make some type of connection between that and the amount of time she spent online/on the phone to the dramatic changes in her beliefs and behavior.
It definitely helped make me aware of things I need to be educated in raising children in a time when they literally have global, technologically based childhoods and adolescence.
I read this in 2 sittings. It was a very quick read and definitely pulled me in. I'm not convinced the "boyfriend" had criminal intentions in his relationship, but I can see that as a parent this would be absolutely terrifying to find out your daughter were running away like that. I'm actually quite surprised that they were able to get the FBI involved (thankfully they did!) I don't really get how the parents couldn't have known she was having a relationship based on how often she was talking to and Skyping the guy. (Didn't they wonder what she was doing on her phone/computer for hours and hours a day? The father was very concerned about her leaving Christianity and I would've thought a parent would make some type of connection between that and the amount of time she spent online/on the phone to the dramatic changes in her beliefs and behavior.
It definitely helped make me aware of things I need to be educated in raising children in a time when they literally have global, technologically based childhoods and adolescence.
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