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The Girl in the White Van
A teen is snatched after her kung fu class and must figure out how to escape—and rescue another kidnapped prisoner—in this chilling YA mystery.
When Savannah disappears soon after arguing with her mom’s boyfriend, everyone assumes she's run away. The truth is much worse. She’s been kidnapped by a man in a white van who locks her in an old trailer home, far from prying eyes. And worse yet, Savannah’s not alone: Ten months earlier, Jenny met the same fate and nearly died trying to escape. Now as the two girls wonder if he will hold them captive forever or kill them, they must join forces to break out—even if it means they die trying.
Master mystery-writer April Henry weaves another heart-stopping young adult thriller in this story ripped straight from the headlines.
When Savannah disappears soon after arguing with her mom’s boyfriend, everyone assumes she's run away. The truth is much worse. She’s been kidnapped by a man in a white van who locks her in an old trailer home, far from prying eyes. And worse yet, Savannah’s not alone: Ten months earlier, Jenny met the same fate and nearly died trying to escape. Now as the two girls wonder if he will hold them captive forever or kill them, they must join forces to break out—even if it means they die trying.
Master mystery-writer April Henry weaves another heart-stopping young adult thriller in this story ripped straight from the headlines.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2020
213 people are currently reading
7730 people want to read
About the author
April Henry
34 books3,366 followersI write mysteries and thrillers. I live in Portland, Oregon with my family.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written 27 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller lists, gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into seven languages, been named to state reading lists, won the Anthony award and won the Oregon Book Award.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written 27 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller lists, gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into seven languages, been named to state reading lists, won the Anthony award and won the Oregon Book Award.
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December 10, 2017I'm sorry but
August 14, 2022
Karate chops and Bruce Lee thoughts combine to raise the adrenaline in this new YA thriller from April Henry. We view the situation from multiple POVs: the two girls (Savannah & Jenny), their mothers, the cute boy in Savannah's karate class, and Sir -- the lurking threat. Each Savannah chapter begins with an appropriate Bruce Lee quote like this one: "Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one." What I most appreciated about this book was the cooperation between Savannah and Jenny as they worked together to escape captivity. Their struggle is not pretty. Can they overcome the obstacles that stand in their way? The rules keep changing and their resources are few. This is real self-defense in action. Will it be enough? I will be reading more April Henry books and recommending them to the teens at my library.
I was reminded of this book after finishing Jane Anonymous.
I was reminded of this book after finishing Jane Anonymous.
November 15, 2020
My first April Henry book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kept my attention from beginning to end. Love the story and the characters. Interesting read.
January 19, 2025
3.5 ★
I had fun! Sara picked this for the book club and I'll admit I went it judgemental because she's always recommending this, so I'm glad I actually enjoyed it! Henry's writing is good, she relays the facts pretty nicely and brings excitement. While there's like no character development (what can you expect, its a YA thriller), I was excited to see the next thing(maybe not on the edge of my seat).
I had fun! Sara picked this for the book club and I'll admit I went it judgemental because she's always recommending this, so I'm glad I actually enjoyed it! Henry's writing is good, she relays the facts pretty nicely and brings excitement. While there's like no character development (what can you expect, its a YA thriller), I was excited to see the next thing(maybe not on the edge of my seat).
September 30, 2020
*3.5*
This book combines elements from Henry’s most notable works, such as Girl, Stolen and The Night She Disappeared. At first, I didn’t mind it. But after awhile, a sense of familiarity struck me. I found so many similarities between the three books that, at times, the plot began to feel predictable, like a much watered-down Girl, Stolen.
In both books, the heroine is kidnapped by car or moving vehicle and taken to a place seemingly “off the grid.” Girl plots escape, girl attempts escape, and so on. But what makes Girl, Stolen so much more gripping than The Girl In The White Van relies in the main character’s disability—she’s blind.
Here, we have a heroine who is unfortunately more dull and forgettable, sucking much of the excitement out of the story. Add that in with too many POVs—most of which feel pointless—and the book feels like a bunch of recycled plot points regurgitated on the page.
However, once I was able to ignore the familiar plot, things became much more enjoyable. Jenny, in fact, is an interesting character—one who has experienced trauma and paid the price. I also enjoyed being inside the kidnapper’s head, giving an insight into such a twisted mind.
Henry’s signature is her suspense, and in the case of this book, it is remarkably done. Scenes begin and end at just the right moments. Pacing is skillfully done throughout, except for a rushed final chapter.
I also appreciated the incorporation of Bruce Lee’s quotes at the beginning of nearly every scene, and how his character fueled the two captives to escape.
Verdict: Anyone new to the author will find a riveting, intense nail-biter nonetheless. But returning readers might experience a heavy dose of déjà vu.
This book combines elements from Henry’s most notable works, such as Girl, Stolen and The Night She Disappeared. At first, I didn’t mind it. But after awhile, a sense of familiarity struck me. I found so many similarities between the three books that, at times, the plot began to feel predictable, like a much watered-down Girl, Stolen.
In both books, the heroine is kidnapped by car or moving vehicle and taken to a place seemingly “off the grid.” Girl plots escape, girl attempts escape, and so on. But what makes Girl, Stolen so much more gripping than The Girl In The White Van relies in the main character’s disability—she’s blind.
Here, we have a heroine who is unfortunately more dull and forgettable, sucking much of the excitement out of the story. Add that in with too many POVs—most of which feel pointless—and the book feels like a bunch of recycled plot points regurgitated on the page.
However, once I was able to ignore the familiar plot, things became much more enjoyable. Jenny, in fact, is an interesting character—one who has experienced trauma and paid the price. I also enjoyed being inside the kidnapper’s head, giving an insight into such a twisted mind.
Henry’s signature is her suspense, and in the case of this book, it is remarkably done. Scenes begin and end at just the right moments. Pacing is skillfully done throughout, except for a rushed final chapter.
I also appreciated the incorporation of Bruce Lee’s quotes at the beginning of nearly every scene, and how his character fueled the two captives to escape.
Verdict: Anyone new to the author will find a riveting, intense nail-biter nonetheless. But returning readers might experience a heavy dose of déjà vu.
August 21, 2020
Savannah and her mom are living with her Mom’s new boyfriend for 7-8 months. Savannah and Tim don’t get along. She is so tired of moving states to states and living with her Mom’s ever-changing boyfriends. This time she is connecting to this city and taking Kung Fu classes and loving these. But One day she got kidnapped after her classes.
This book was short and the story was quick. I liked the concept behind the book and whole the kidnapping place and struggle scene was well developed. But there were so many POV which kind of bothered me. It was more of a thriller than a mystery.
This book is more suitable for new YA Thriller/Mystery readers.
This book was short and the story was quick. I liked the concept behind the book and whole the kidnapping place and struggle scene was well developed. But there were so many POV which kind of bothered me. It was more of a thriller than a mystery.
This book is more suitable for new YA Thriller/Mystery readers.
March 10, 2022
“If there is always light, you don’t experience light anymore. You have to have the rhythm of light and darkness.” Bruce Lee
Super fast-paced, quick read, easily read in one sitting, but though the subject itself is creepy and thrilling, it came off as a bit too shallow for my taste. Not enough depth to the characters, way too many POVs for such a short book, and it was so rushed that it didn't allow for any tension to be built.
Seriously, everything was so fast, and it's not as if I particularly enjoy stories that drag, but this one was just next level quick. It feels like watching a random CSI episode, and the ending even have that soap-opera vibe of just telling instead of showing what happened to everyone.
I'm giving it two stars because the dog was great. I swear, the only tension-filled moments from this story came from the dog. Cujo vibes that I love.
Super fast-paced, quick read, easily read in one sitting, but though the subject itself is creepy and thrilling, it came off as a bit too shallow for my taste. Not enough depth to the characters, way too many POVs for such a short book, and it was so rushed that it didn't allow for any tension to be built.
Seriously, everything was so fast, and it's not as if I particularly enjoy stories that drag, but this one was just next level quick. It feels like watching a random CSI episode, and the ending even have that soap-opera vibe of just telling instead of showing what happened to everyone.
I'm giving it two stars because the dog was great. I swear, the only tension-filled moments from this story came from the dog. Cujo vibes that I love.
May 31, 2021
Somehow The Girl in the White Van was my first time reading a book by April Henry even though she has a TON of other novels. I don't know why she wasn't on my radar before, but I am so glad she is now because I loved this book! Each chapter starts with a Bruce Lee quote thanks to our main character Savannah's (and the author's) love of him and martial arts in general, and they always related to what the chapter would be about which I really liked. I also loved Savannah's character and she was very relatable and inspirational, which I think is a huge plus in young adult novels. It's a pretty short book with a lot of action which made me fly through it, but it also packs an emotional punch and was very realistic.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Amy McFadden and having recently listened to a completely different type of book narrated by her, was really impressed with her narration skills. There are a decent number of viewpoints in The Girl in the White Van and she did a great job with every single one of them. The audio is also incredibly short at about five hours, so it's an easy way to throw another book into your day. This is a young adult novel, but I am a huge fan of YA and it is definitely a read that adults will like too. I would have liked maybe a couple less POV's but overall I really enjoyed each one and was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Amy McFadden and having recently listened to a completely different type of book narrated by her, was really impressed with her narration skills. There are a decent number of viewpoints in The Girl in the White Van and she did a great job with every single one of them. The audio is also incredibly short at about five hours, so it's an easy way to throw another book into your day. This is a young adult novel, but I am a huge fan of YA and it is definitely a read that adults will like too. I would have liked maybe a couple less POV's but overall I really enjoyed each one and was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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November 2, 2020Karate chops and Bruce Lee thoughts combine to raise the adrenaline in this new YA thriller from April Henry. We view the situation from multiple POVs: the two girls (Savannah & Jenny), their mothers, the cute boy in Savannah's karate class, and Sir -- the lurking threat. Each Savannah chapter begins with an appropriate Bruce Lee quote like this one: "Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one." What I most appreciated about this book was the cooperation between Savannah and Jenny as they worked together to escape captivity. Their struggle is not pretty. Can they overcome the obstacles that stand in their way? The rules keep changing and their resources are few. This is real self-defense in action. Will it be enough? I will be reading more April Henry books and recommending them to the teens at my library. **Review by Darla from the Red Bridge Branch**
July 28, 2020
Savannah is kidnapped after Kung Fu class taken to a trailer that houses Jenny, a girl take nearly a year ago. Together they must fight to escape, before Sir, their abductor, kills them.
THE GIRL IN THE WHITE VAN is a typical action packed April Henry novel. A lot happens in a short amount of time in this fast paced story. Told from multiple points of view, some from minor characters, I didn’t have a real feel for the complexity of anyone beyond a stereotypical sketch.
My only issue with the story was Rex, the viscous dog, who Savannah and Jenny must fight. I don’t like to read hurting of any animals, especially not pages and pages of fighting back (spoiler alert: the dog isn’t seriously harmed, but still). This angle felt unnecessary.
All in all, THE GIRL IN THE WHITE VAN is a quick, satisfying read.
THE GIRL IN THE WHITE VAN is a typical action packed April Henry novel. A lot happens in a short amount of time in this fast paced story. Told from multiple points of view, some from minor characters, I didn’t have a real feel for the complexity of anyone beyond a stereotypical sketch.
My only issue with the story was Rex, the viscous dog, who Savannah and Jenny must fight. I don’t like to read hurting of any animals, especially not pages and pages of fighting back (spoiler alert: the dog isn’t seriously harmed, but still). This angle felt unnecessary.
All in all, THE GIRL IN THE WHITE VAN is a quick, satisfying read.
September 3, 2022
Trigger warnings: kidnapping, domestic violence, taser, dog attack, blood, physical violence, broken bones, threats of sexual violence
This was fine but also I suspect it will prove utterly forgettable in the long run. Don't get me wrong, it does what April Henry's books do best - it's action-packed and very tense and extremely fast paced. It also features teenaged characters having to fight their way out of a truly awful situation. But this would have worked better for me if it had been at least 50 pages longer than it was, just to flesh out who the characters were and really give us a sense of all the narrators individually.
This was fine but also I suspect it will prove utterly forgettable in the long run. Don't get me wrong, it does what April Henry's books do best - it's action-packed and very tense and extremely fast paced. It also features teenaged characters having to fight their way out of a truly awful situation. But this would have worked better for me if it had been at least 50 pages longer than it was, just to flesh out who the characters were and really give us a sense of all the narrators individually.
August 30, 2020
This is a quick thriller about a kidnapped teen girl that escapes (no sexual violence or gory cruelty depicted). I also liked how the author used multiple narrators fluidly, they helped make the book feel different from other similar storylines. I will describe this book as “YA” because of how lightly dark themes are treaded on (+ it would be suitable for most teens compared to other psychological thrillers) but (!!) book doesn’t come across as “YA.” In other words, it qualifies as PG but is not a typical PG “Disney” Kids/teens movie.
Overall, I enjoyed it and liked the main character. I felt she was fairly well developed and I liked how she wasn’t your typical shiny suburban belle. (Savannah is very “real world” both in her appearance/personality and her upbringing).
Admittedly, I was disappointed with the somewhat abrupt ending and the pacing, which is why I didn’t rate the book higher. This book started out at a nice, steady pace, and then sped up rapidly at the end. Sadly, the speed here means shallow and rushed (did the author get bored? Miss a deadline?) and not speed as in a “fast and furious” race.
Good for a car ride. Especially if you have teens in the car.
SUMMARY: Savannah lives with her mom and her mom’s current boyfriend in the Portland area.
Savannah doesn’t have many friends because her mom moves them from guy to guy (and city to city) often, but she’s recently started Martial arts lessons and is meeting people that way, including a cute senior at her school. She also loves Portland and doesn’t want to move again.
After talking to the cute senior on her way home from class, savannah is kidnapped. Police initially dismiss her as a runaway, having learned Savannah was in conflict with the mothers boyfriend. Eventually, Savannah’s mother, Savannah’s crush/boyfriend, and a local man with law enforcement investigate/look for Savannah.
Meanwhile, when Savannah wakes up, a girl her age, Jenny, is tending her wounds. (Savannah was injured trying to escape her capture—she jumped from a moving car and was subsequently tased).
Although Jenny’s face is horribly mangled (described as “Frankenstein”), savannah recognizes her as a missing person from a nearby county. Jenny tells savannah about her (Jenny’s) kidnapping and their mutual kidnapper—“Sir”.
Jenny also reveals how her face became scared: she tried to run and the kidnappers dog is trained to kill. Despite Jenny’s protests, savannah looks for ways to escape the RV they’re confined to. (The dog is circling the RV outside, and the door is locked).
Chapters alternate between Savannah, Jenny, the cute senior (Savannah’s crush), his dad (law enforcement), the kidnapper, Savannah’s mom, and her abusive/drunk boyfriend.
Overall, I enjoyed it and liked the main character. I felt she was fairly well developed and I liked how she wasn’t your typical shiny suburban belle. (Savannah is very “real world” both in her appearance/personality and her upbringing).
Admittedly, I was disappointed with the somewhat abrupt ending and the pacing, which is why I didn’t rate the book higher. This book started out at a nice, steady pace, and then sped up rapidly at the end. Sadly, the speed here means shallow and rushed (did the author get bored? Miss a deadline?) and not speed as in a “fast and furious” race.
Good for a car ride. Especially if you have teens in the car.
SUMMARY: Savannah lives with her mom and her mom’s current boyfriend in the Portland area.
Savannah doesn’t have many friends because her mom moves them from guy to guy (and city to city) often, but she’s recently started Martial arts lessons and is meeting people that way, including a cute senior at her school. She also loves Portland and doesn’t want to move again.
After talking to the cute senior on her way home from class, savannah is kidnapped. Police initially dismiss her as a runaway, having learned Savannah was in conflict with the mothers boyfriend. Eventually, Savannah’s mother, Savannah’s crush/boyfriend, and a local man with law enforcement investigate/look for Savannah.
Meanwhile, when Savannah wakes up, a girl her age, Jenny, is tending her wounds. (Savannah was injured trying to escape her capture—she jumped from a moving car and was subsequently tased).
Although Jenny’s face is horribly mangled (described as “Frankenstein”), savannah recognizes her as a missing person from a nearby county. Jenny tells savannah about her (Jenny’s) kidnapping and their mutual kidnapper—“Sir”.
Jenny also reveals how her face became scared: she tried to run and the kidnappers dog is trained to kill. Despite Jenny’s protests, savannah looks for ways to escape the RV they’re confined to. (The dog is circling the RV outside, and the door is locked).
Chapters alternate between Savannah, Jenny, the cute senior (Savannah’s crush), his dad (law enforcement), the kidnapper, Savannah’s mom, and her abusive/drunk boyfriend.
November 6, 2023
The Girl in the White Van was a fast-paced read following a sixteen-year-old girl who is kidnapped and held hostage with her kidnapper's previous victim.
Savannah Taylor is used to moving from town to town as her mother moves from man to man, but she likes Portland and doesn't want to move again. After a fight with her mother's boyfriend, Savannah is dreading going home after her kung fu class only to be snatched by a man in a white van on her way home. Locked in a trailer, hidden from the world, Savannah vows to escape. But Savannah isn't alone. Locked inside the trailer with her is Jenny Dowd, the girl the man kidnapped ten months ago. Savannah and Jenny quickly join forces to find a way out even if it means they'll die trying.
The plot in this book is very fast paced with the events of the book taking place over the course of just a few days. Savannah fights back when the kidnapper comes after her which leads to her getting injured. This means means she has to rely on the help of Jenny, the other victim, when it comes to formulating an escape plan. The fast-paced nature of the story helped build the bond between the girls and helped keep me engaged with the book. I liked that the book was on the shorter side as that meant there wasn't any unnecessary filler just for the sake of making the book longer. I don't want to spoil what happens, so I will just say I liked how the girls worked together and thought the plan they came up with was a good one. The ending is suspenseful with just the right amount of tension to keep you guessing as to how everything will work out.
The Girl in the White Van is told from multiple points of view including the kidnappers. Initially we don't know much about the kidnapper other than he is looking for the "perfect" girl and that he has been searching for a while. As the book goes on, we learn more about his motives and I have to say the guy was a massive creep. The two girls, Savannah and Jenny, are quite different from one another. Jenny is more docile while Savannah is a fighter. I liked seeing Savannah help Jenny find a will to fight and that she worked with her to show her some defensive moves. The two work well together and the bond that quickly formed between them felt realistic given the circumstances.
Overall The Girl in the White Van was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a great YA thriller.
Savannah Taylor is used to moving from town to town as her mother moves from man to man, but she likes Portland and doesn't want to move again. After a fight with her mother's boyfriend, Savannah is dreading going home after her kung fu class only to be snatched by a man in a white van on her way home. Locked in a trailer, hidden from the world, Savannah vows to escape. But Savannah isn't alone. Locked inside the trailer with her is Jenny Dowd, the girl the man kidnapped ten months ago. Savannah and Jenny quickly join forces to find a way out even if it means they'll die trying.
The plot in this book is very fast paced with the events of the book taking place over the course of just a few days. Savannah fights back when the kidnapper comes after her which leads to her getting injured. This means means she has to rely on the help of Jenny, the other victim, when it comes to formulating an escape plan. The fast-paced nature of the story helped build the bond between the girls and helped keep me engaged with the book. I liked that the book was on the shorter side as that meant there wasn't any unnecessary filler just for the sake of making the book longer. I don't want to spoil what happens, so I will just say I liked how the girls worked together and thought the plan they came up with was a good one. The ending is suspenseful with just the right amount of tension to keep you guessing as to how everything will work out.
The Girl in the White Van is told from multiple points of view including the kidnappers. Initially we don't know much about the kidnapper other than he is looking for the "perfect" girl and that he has been searching for a while. As the book goes on, we learn more about his motives and I have to say the guy was a massive creep. The two girls, Savannah and Jenny, are quite different from one another. Jenny is more docile while Savannah is a fighter. I liked seeing Savannah help Jenny find a will to fight and that she worked with her to show her some defensive moves. The two work well together and the bond that quickly formed between them felt realistic given the circumstances.
Overall The Girl in the White Van was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a great YA thriller.
July 1, 2020
Girl in the White Van is exactly the kind of book I am always on the lookout for to add to our mystery/thriller YA collection. It is an engaging, quick read, with strong characters. Girl in the White Van is a thrilling book. Scary but hopefully, dark and gritty but full of empowerment and a sense of justice.
Savannah is just waiting until she turns 18 and she can escape her mother’s toxic pattern of moving in with random guys. While she doesn’t love living with her mother’s latest boyfriend, she is enjoying living in Portland. She loves her Kung fu class and is just getting to know one of her classmates, Daniel. But on the way home from class, Savannah is grabbed by a man in a white van. Drugged, hurt and confused, Savannah wakes in an old trailer home. But she isn’t alone. Jenny was taken nine months ago.
While the majority of the chapters are written from Savannah’s perspective, there are also chapters from Jenny, Daniel, Jenny and Savannah’s parents’ perspective and a variety of other side characters, including the suspects. The reader is given an insight into the person responsible, but the mystery of who they are remains and builds the tension.
While there is a fair bit of fighting, injuries and violence and an overall sense of bad things, the story is clean from sexual content or coarse language, so I’ll be happy to promote this with readers ages 12 and up who are okay with violence, which is really hard to find in YA mystery thrillers.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Savannah is just waiting until she turns 18 and she can escape her mother’s toxic pattern of moving in with random guys. While she doesn’t love living with her mother’s latest boyfriend, she is enjoying living in Portland. She loves her Kung fu class and is just getting to know one of her classmates, Daniel. But on the way home from class, Savannah is grabbed by a man in a white van. Drugged, hurt and confused, Savannah wakes in an old trailer home. But she isn’t alone. Jenny was taken nine months ago.
While the majority of the chapters are written from Savannah’s perspective, there are also chapters from Jenny, Daniel, Jenny and Savannah’s parents’ perspective and a variety of other side characters, including the suspects. The reader is given an insight into the person responsible, but the mystery of who they are remains and builds the tension.
While there is a fair bit of fighting, injuries and violence and an overall sense of bad things, the story is clean from sexual content or coarse language, so I’ll be happy to promote this with readers ages 12 and up who are okay with violence, which is really hard to find in YA mystery thrillers.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
December 14, 2020
I've read 6/9 of April's YA books and I've given all of them 1 or two stars.
What can I say? I believe in second chances. Or sixth, it seems.
What can I say? I believe in second chances. Or sixth, it seems.
June 23, 2025
White vans forever haunt me 🥰
March 27, 2020
April Henry is one on my go-tos for murder mystery in my 8th grade classroom and this book definitely didn’t let me down. In fact, it might have been my favorite.
Savannah is on her way home from king fu and is abducted. From trying to jump from a moving van to pushing Jenny, another abducted girl, to assert herself more, she is a fighter in every sense of the way.
I also love that it is told into multiple POVs. From Savannah to her mom to the police detective to Sir who has abducted her. This book is going to fly off my class library shelf.
Thanks for the ARC MacMillian. 💙
Savannah is on her way home from king fu and is abducted. From trying to jump from a moving van to pushing Jenny, another abducted girl, to assert herself more, she is a fighter in every sense of the way.
I also love that it is told into multiple POVs. From Savannah to her mom to the police detective to Sir who has abducted her. This book is going to fly off my class library shelf.
Thanks for the ARC MacMillian. 💙
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2020
Abgebrochen nach 145 Seiten.
Nach elf Tagen für 145 Seiten gebe ich es auf mich noch länger durch die Geschichte zu quälen, was irgendwie traurig ist, wenn man bedenkt, dass es keine 70 Seiten mehr bis zum Ende sind. Leider kommt die spannende Idee nicht gegen einen den laienhaften Erzählstil und die fade Charaktere an.
Nach elf Tagen für 145 Seiten gebe ich es auf mich noch länger durch die Geschichte zu quälen, was irgendwie traurig ist, wenn man bedenkt, dass es keine 70 Seiten mehr bis zum Ende sind. Leider kommt die spannende Idee nicht gegen einen den laienhaften Erzählstil und die fade Charaktere an.
June 24, 2021
"Defeat is a state of mind; no one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality"
Easily the worst book cover there is. Entertaining book, horrible cover.
This story follows sixteen year old Savannah Taylor. She lives in Portland, is a fan of Bruce Lee and takes Kung Fu classes three times a week. These classes are the best part of her day and Savannah is commited to become a better fighter. She lives with her mom Lorraine and her mom's boyfriend Tim in Tim's house. According to Savannah, Lorraine is in constant search of Prince Charming, but the only guys she dates are trash. Lorraine drags her daughter across the country, moving in with different men and eventually leaving them. Savannah especially dislikes Tim, who is abusive towards her mom. One night after fighting with Tim, Savannah is kidnapped after leaving her Kung Fu class. She then wakes up in a motor home and meets Jenny, a girl who was kidnapped ten months prior. Together, they figure out how to escape.
There are a lot of POV in this book, so the story takes a while to pick up. This is a typical April Henry book: a book with a good premise but barely executed. Her books are perfect for people who want to get into thrillers or are not into the more "gruesome" thrillers and want something lighter.
I liked Savannah, she wasn't going to go down without a fight. She didn't give up and kept trying to escape her kidnapper. Jenny was also very lovable. She went through a lot , but still decided to fight when Savannah encouraged her.
It was an OK book, but I still managed to enjoy it.
Easily the worst book cover there is. Entertaining book, horrible cover.
This story follows sixteen year old Savannah Taylor. She lives in Portland, is a fan of Bruce Lee and takes Kung Fu classes three times a week. These classes are the best part of her day and Savannah is commited to become a better fighter. She lives with her mom Lorraine and her mom's boyfriend Tim in Tim's house. According to Savannah, Lorraine is in constant search of Prince Charming, but the only guys she dates are trash. Lorraine drags her daughter across the country, moving in with different men and eventually leaving them. Savannah especially dislikes Tim, who is abusive towards her mom. One night after fighting with Tim, Savannah is kidnapped after leaving her Kung Fu class. She then wakes up in a motor home and meets Jenny, a girl who was kidnapped ten months prior. Together, they figure out how to escape.
There are a lot of POV in this book, so the story takes a while to pick up. This is a typical April Henry book: a book with a good premise but barely executed. Her books are perfect for people who want to get into thrillers or are not into the more "gruesome" thrillers and want something lighter.
I liked Savannah, she wasn't going to go down without a fight. She didn't give up and kept trying to escape her kidnapper. Jenny was also very lovable. She went through a lot , but still decided to fight when Savannah encouraged her.
It was an OK book, but I still managed to enjoy it.
April 22, 2021
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Watch me read this book in a vlog... which was mostly me ripping on Daniel Diaz... hate that guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50xLt...
When Savannah Taylor disappears from her Kung-fu class one night, she is taken to an isolated trailer where another girl named Jenny is waiting to escape, before its too late.
This was very average in my opinion. It didn't help that I was not a fan of the love interest Daniel, AT ALL. He was so bland and boring and they literally had 2 conversations before he was apparently infatuated with Savannah. I am sick of all these books having the female character being rescued by a dull male character... I did like the multiple POVs we were able to read from, including the kidnapper, which was interesting. I also liked being able to see how the kidnapping affected multiple people in their lives and how each person was dealing with those feelings. Savannah was likable enough, but I was definitely more invested in Jenny. It was interesting to learn more about her, and what happened to her to have her end up in the trailer 10 months ago. There also wasn't really that much happening for the majority of the book, and then everything within the last 50 pages. The pacing was just... weird.
I mean, it was a decent time while I was reading, but it wasn't anything really memorable.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Watch me read this book in a vlog... which was mostly me ripping on Daniel Diaz... hate that guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50xLt...
When Savannah Taylor disappears from her Kung-fu class one night, she is taken to an isolated trailer where another girl named Jenny is waiting to escape, before its too late.
This was very average in my opinion. It didn't help that I was not a fan of the love interest Daniel, AT ALL. He was so bland and boring and they literally had 2 conversations before he was apparently infatuated with Savannah. I am sick of all these books having the female character being rescued by a dull male character... I did like the multiple POVs we were able to read from, including the kidnapper, which was interesting. I also liked being able to see how the kidnapping affected multiple people in their lives and how each person was dealing with those feelings. Savannah was likable enough, but I was definitely more invested in Jenny. It was interesting to learn more about her, and what happened to her to have her end up in the trailer 10 months ago. There also wasn't really that much happening for the majority of the book, and then everything within the last 50 pages. The pacing was just... weird.
I mean, it was a decent time while I was reading, but it wasn't anything really memorable.
April 28, 2022
I was just not a fan of this book. It was a little stereotypical with the white van and you never really knew why they were taken. It just wasn’t for me.
February 1, 2021
Very quick listen, especially on this snowy day! The lead gets kidnapped and wakes up with another girl who has been kidnapped. They have to fight their way out but will they both make it? Good thriller/mystery for teens (or 35 year olds 🤣🤣).
March 24, 2024
Kinda scary 😨
August 19, 2023
OMG this was my second April Henry book, and I just got around to updating Goodreads, so I have actually read by now about 5 of her books. I am OBSESSED. Each mystery is so fast paced with tons of twists and turns. Suspects everywhere. Characters develop so well and fully in such a short book. Each mystery has the same vibe, funny then serious then suspenseful with so much detail, but with a different person, different backstory, same emotional roller coaster. My go-to author for a quick mystery. First book of her's I read was Girl Stolen, which I read for book club, and the entire club was hooked on Henry from then on. Can't wait to finish her books, and I hope she writes more soon.
What would be cool is one large book with a mystery that draws all of her characters together. Sort of a grand finale.
What would be cool is one large book with a mystery that draws all of her characters together. Sort of a grand finale.
August 22, 2020
Another excellent thriller from April Henry. The topic is dark: a teen girl is snatched from the sidewalk right in front of her kung fu dojo, and put in a trailer with another girl, Jenny, the kidnapper's first victim nearly a year ago. Jenny, badly misfigured from a dog attack when she tried to escape, has resigned herself to her fate and is just overjoyed to have company, but the newest victim, Savannah, is determined to escape, and the sooner the better. Despite injuries she sustained when he grabbed her, she's going to do everything she can to get out of his clutches before the worse happens. I could NOT put this book down, and I know many teens who won't be able to either!
September 25, 2024
this was so good 100% recommend!!!
February 22, 2022
I am officially scared to go outside by myself now.
December 3, 2020
Definitely a thriller ... but it was one of those “hard to get through” kind of books considering the content. But really well written.
April 12, 2021
This book was an intense ride! Like her previous book, Run, Hide, Fight Back, Henry focuses on teens in danger and the choices they have to make to survive.
Almost a year ago, Jenny went missing.
Now the same man is coming for Savannah.
Told from multiple POVs, the pacing is fast and furious, as time is running out for Savannah. I really enjoyed Savannah's admiration of Bruce Lee and the way his quotes helped inspire to keep going.
Almost a year ago, Jenny went missing.
Now the same man is coming for Savannah.
Told from multiple POVs, the pacing is fast and furious, as time is running out for Savannah. I really enjoyed Savannah's admiration of Bruce Lee and the way his quotes helped inspire to keep going.
February 15, 2024
3.5 - not bad but not my fav
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