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The Hidden Girl
**eBook Only** Mel has everything to lose – but how can she stand back when she knows something’s not right?
Within the pages of a stolen diary, Melati discovers a coded cry for help – the diary belongs to Devi, an Indonesian teenager who is being held by traffickers. Mel races across the island of Java and against the clock to work out Devi’s identity and where she's being held. Before long the pieces fall into place and Mel must put her own life on the line to save a girl she’s never met.
Within the pages of a stolen diary, Melati discovers a coded cry for help – the diary belongs to Devi, an Indonesian teenager who is being held by traffickers. Mel races across the island of Java and against the clock to work out Devi’s identity and where she's being held. Before long the pieces fall into place and Mel must put her own life on the line to save a girl she’s never met.
352 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2022
7 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Louise Bassett
1 book7 followersLouise Bassett writes for young adults and grown-ups. The Hidden Girl is her debut novel and was shortlisted for the Ampersand Prize. Her award-winning short fiction has been published internationally.
After growing up in Adelaide, she narrowly dodged a career as a lawyer and worked in international aid in Indonesia, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam. While living in Indonesia, she scaled volcanoes and worked with activists who were campaigning to end violence against women. These experiences inspired The Hidden Girl.
Louise works in community justice, giving her a deep understanding of the impact of crime and vulnerability; issues she explores in her writing. Based in Melbourne, Louise lives with her partner and too many books.
After growing up in Adelaide, she narrowly dodged a career as a lawyer and worked in international aid in Indonesia, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam. While living in Indonesia, she scaled volcanoes and worked with activists who were campaigning to end violence against women. These experiences inspired The Hidden Girl.
Louise works in community justice, giving her a deep understanding of the impact of crime and vulnerability; issues she explores in her writing. Based in Melbourne, Louise lives with her partner and too many books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 14, 2025
Melati is a scholarship student at an elite girls’ school in Melbourne and an exemplary student. What people around her don’t know is that the year before she switched schools she messed up badly (so much that she had problems with law enforcement) and her exemplary behavior now is meant to keep her from being sent away to a strict boarding school far from civilization. But when, a year later, she stands up to a bully, nobody believes her version of events and thinks it is a relapse of her "wild ways" from earlier. So when she finds a mysterious diary of a girl she has reason to think is in danger and a victim of trafficking, Melati cannot really trust adults to handle the situation… A diary in Indonesian, on top of everything, which Melati knows but as a learner rather than a fluent speaker, meaning the time might be literally ticking away as she parses the text to make sense of it.
I understand that this was initially published for the Australian market and is now being made available in the US. As a non-native English speaker primarily familiar with American English, I found some of the slang expressions peculiar but never to the extent that they obscured comprehension. I am wondering if the book was adapted for the re-release or written at once with an international audience in mind. One thing that might have benefited from more adaptation is helping the reader situate themselves in terms of the Australian academic calendar. Without the automatic understanding of when exams are and when school breaks follow, a knowledge that comes with partaking in a culture, I felt a bit lost in the temporality of the second half of the story, which depends on those markers.
I liked the first-person narrator’s tone, and her decisions seemed to me realistically grounded in her life situation and personality, though, as many reviewers agree, perhaps they are not optimal from an objective point of view. The book introduces the reader to complicated topics such as sex trafficking, which is not an easy one to tackle while remaining within the constraints of what is acceptable to write for a YA audience. I am outside the target age group, so I am not the right person to judge if the way it is done is shocking or not, but there are no worrisome graphic depictions.
It was also interesting how the inevitable topic of comparison between adolescence in a first-world vs. a third-world country is handled. Perhaps not enough, but at least the pitfalls of the worst clichés of white people saving brown women are avoided: if anything, it is more of "diaspora members saving their old-country fellows," as both Melati and her love interest, who helps her in the "investigation," are Australians of Indonesian origin.
4.5 stars.
(Re)publication date: October 7.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this title through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.
I understand that this was initially published for the Australian market and is now being made available in the US. As a non-native English speaker primarily familiar with American English, I found some of the slang expressions peculiar but never to the extent that they obscured comprehension. I am wondering if the book was adapted for the re-release or written at once with an international audience in mind. One thing that might have benefited from more adaptation is helping the reader situate themselves in terms of the Australian academic calendar. Without the automatic understanding of when exams are and when school breaks follow, a knowledge that comes with partaking in a culture, I felt a bit lost in the temporality of the second half of the story, which depends on those markers.
I liked the first-person narrator’s tone, and her decisions seemed to me realistically grounded in her life situation and personality, though, as many reviewers agree, perhaps they are not optimal from an objective point of view. The book introduces the reader to complicated topics such as sex trafficking, which is not an easy one to tackle while remaining within the constraints of what is acceptable to write for a YA audience. I am outside the target age group, so I am not the right person to judge if the way it is done is shocking or not, but there are no worrisome graphic depictions.
It was also interesting how the inevitable topic of comparison between adolescence in a first-world vs. a third-world country is handled. Perhaps not enough, but at least the pitfalls of the worst clichés of white people saving brown women are avoided: if anything, it is more of "diaspora members saving their old-country fellows," as both Melati and her love interest, who helps her in the "investigation," are Australians of Indonesian origin.
4.5 stars.
(Re)publication date: October 7.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this title through NetGalley. The opinion above is my own.
December 3, 2022
“Everyone gawks as my good girl mask shatters into a thousand pieces, leaving a trail from the netball court to the staff room.”
This story is about Melati, a teen who has been in trouble in the past, who comes across a diary with a hidden message, then struggles with whether people will believe what she has found. This is a coming of age, race against time, mystery appropriate for 14+ readers. Set between Melbourne, Australia, and Indonesia, it deals with some pretty heavy topics, and while I am all for worldliness in our teens, I would tread careful and make sure caregivers have conversations about this book with their readers. The writing is set squarely in the realms of YA and is pretty clear cut in its writing. It is plot driven, and looks at the atrocity of human trafficking. It also has a focus on bullying. Melati puts herself in dangerous situations in her search for answers and as a parent found the somewhat flippant response from the parents a bit concerning. We want our kids to good in the world, but we want to make sure they are kept safe in the process, which is something Melati's parents failed at. The themes themselves were dealt with in an incredibly clever way though - I thought the handling of the bullying has some real power - but some of the actions of the main character left me cringing. Worth a read to open doors to some complex issues in the world for our youth, but think this book needs support from an adult voice once read.
“Some people have only known cruelty, all their lives. But they keep going. They can be the quickest to find happiness when it visits. It's like pain sharpens their capacity for joy.”
Thanks to the publishers for trusting me with an honest review.
This story is about Melati, a teen who has been in trouble in the past, who comes across a diary with a hidden message, then struggles with whether people will believe what she has found. This is a coming of age, race against time, mystery appropriate for 14+ readers. Set between Melbourne, Australia, and Indonesia, it deals with some pretty heavy topics, and while I am all for worldliness in our teens, I would tread careful and make sure caregivers have conversations about this book with their readers. The writing is set squarely in the realms of YA and is pretty clear cut in its writing. It is plot driven, and looks at the atrocity of human trafficking. It also has a focus on bullying. Melati puts herself in dangerous situations in her search for answers and as a parent found the somewhat flippant response from the parents a bit concerning. We want our kids to good in the world, but we want to make sure they are kept safe in the process, which is something Melati's parents failed at. The themes themselves were dealt with in an incredibly clever way though - I thought the handling of the bullying has some real power - but some of the actions of the main character left me cringing. Worth a read to open doors to some complex issues in the world for our youth, but think this book needs support from an adult voice once read.
“Some people have only known cruelty, all their lives. But they keep going. They can be the quickest to find happiness when it visits. It's like pain sharpens their capacity for joy.”
Thanks to the publishers for trusting me with an honest review.
August 18, 2022
Louise Bassett’s debut novel written for a young adult audience is a gripping page turner. This story, set in Melbourne and Indonesia, manages to avoid the cliche of girl-meets-boy-and-falls-in-love while still having Melati meet Michael. The Hidden Girl explores the important and universal young adult themes of friendship, fitting in and the tug and pull of parent-teen relationships while also bringing into the spotlight domestic abuse and sex trafficking in an accessible way for teens to digest.
Bassett has excelled with this fast-paced book that will surely please young adult and adult readers.
Bassett has excelled with this fast-paced book that will surely please young adult and adult readers.
March 18, 2023
1.75
The main character pissed me off she was so immature and totally took away from the heavy topics in this book. She acted like a child with no self regard, or regard for any one around her especially the girl from the diary. She makes it all about herself and doesn't change at the end of the novel, I really wanted to see her character develop and change, but sadly that didn't happen.
The main character pissed me off she was so immature and totally took away from the heavy topics in this book. She acted like a child with no self regard, or regard for any one around her especially the girl from the diary. She makes it all about herself and doesn't change at the end of the novel, I really wanted to see her character develop and change, but sadly that didn't happen.
September 16, 2022
The first suspenseful novella that I’ve read in a long time! Bassett writes with such grit, sharpness and somehow wit that made my heart pound with every turn of the page. And this is a debut? Stunning, I feel like I’ve known her writing for a long time.
July 18, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Walker Books Australia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Louise Bassett’s “The Hidden Girl” is a fast-paced, compelling YA thriller that drops you into the dark realities of human trafficking while balancing the turmoil of teenage life. It’s a gripping read that boldly pushes beyond the usual boundaries of young adult fiction, though it may not be for every teen due to the weight of its subject matter.
At the heart of the story is Melati, a bright but troubled Year 11 student at a private girls’ school in Melbourne. Having kept her head down after past mistakes, Melati’s attempts to stay out of trouble come crashing down when she stands up to Libby Hartnett who is the school’s resident bully and daughter of a powerful benefactor. A spontaneous act of defending another student catapults Melati back into chaos, and soon she stumbles across a hidden diary in Libby’s school file.
Written in Indonesian, the diary reveals the desperate story of Devi, a young girl trapped in sex trafficking and forced into prostitution. Horrified, Melati becomes determined to help Devi, even as her actions threaten her own future at school. Her search for the truth follows her to Indonesia on a school trip, where she breaks more rules, forms new alliances, including a potential romance with Michael, a Melbourne boy, and risks everything to save a girl she’s never met.
Bassett shines in creating a story full of twists and tension, crafting a mystery where the stakes feel frighteningly real. The writing is clear, accessible, and firmly rooted in the YA genre, making it easy for teens to follow, I did feel that certain characters’ reactions, especially Melati’s parents, are too casual considering the dangers involved.
The book excels in avoiding clichés. This isn’t a fluffy “girl-turns-her-life-around” story; instead, it grapples with serious issues like bullying, privilege, the failures of authority figures, and the frightening reality of child trafficking between Indonesia and Australia. The segments set in Indonesia and inner-city Melbourne are vividly drawn, offering a strong sense of place that heightens the urgency of Melati’s mission.
Despite the weighty themes, Bassett handles the subject of trafficking carefully, keeping the most graphic details implicit rather than explicit. This makes the book intense but generally appropriate for more mature teen readers. The tone did occasionally veer into immaturity, given the gravity of the topics at hand, and noted moments when Melati seems distracted from her self-imposed mission.
Overall, “The Hidden Girl” succeeds as a page-turner, carrying you along on an emotional journey full of moral dilemmas and high stakes. It’s not a story where everyone lives happily ever after, but rather one that forces readers and especially teens to confront the complexities of doing what’s right in a messy, unjust world. For those looking for a YA mystery that tackles social issues outside the norm, “The Hidden Girl” is a powerful, thought-provoking choice. Just be prepared: it’s a book that demands discussion, making it an ideal read for teens and adults to explore together.
Louise Bassett’s “The Hidden Girl” is a fast-paced, compelling YA thriller that drops you into the dark realities of human trafficking while balancing the turmoil of teenage life. It’s a gripping read that boldly pushes beyond the usual boundaries of young adult fiction, though it may not be for every teen due to the weight of its subject matter.
At the heart of the story is Melati, a bright but troubled Year 11 student at a private girls’ school in Melbourne. Having kept her head down after past mistakes, Melati’s attempts to stay out of trouble come crashing down when she stands up to Libby Hartnett who is the school’s resident bully and daughter of a powerful benefactor. A spontaneous act of defending another student catapults Melati back into chaos, and soon she stumbles across a hidden diary in Libby’s school file.
Written in Indonesian, the diary reveals the desperate story of Devi, a young girl trapped in sex trafficking and forced into prostitution. Horrified, Melati becomes determined to help Devi, even as her actions threaten her own future at school. Her search for the truth follows her to Indonesia on a school trip, where she breaks more rules, forms new alliances, including a potential romance with Michael, a Melbourne boy, and risks everything to save a girl she’s never met.
Bassett shines in creating a story full of twists and tension, crafting a mystery where the stakes feel frighteningly real. The writing is clear, accessible, and firmly rooted in the YA genre, making it easy for teens to follow, I did feel that certain characters’ reactions, especially Melati’s parents, are too casual considering the dangers involved.
The book excels in avoiding clichés. This isn’t a fluffy “girl-turns-her-life-around” story; instead, it grapples with serious issues like bullying, privilege, the failures of authority figures, and the frightening reality of child trafficking between Indonesia and Australia. The segments set in Indonesia and inner-city Melbourne are vividly drawn, offering a strong sense of place that heightens the urgency of Melati’s mission.
Despite the weighty themes, Bassett handles the subject of trafficking carefully, keeping the most graphic details implicit rather than explicit. This makes the book intense but generally appropriate for more mature teen readers. The tone did occasionally veer into immaturity, given the gravity of the topics at hand, and noted moments when Melati seems distracted from her self-imposed mission.
Overall, “The Hidden Girl” succeeds as a page-turner, carrying you along on an emotional journey full of moral dilemmas and high stakes. It’s not a story where everyone lives happily ever after, but rather one that forces readers and especially teens to confront the complexities of doing what’s right in a messy, unjust world. For those looking for a YA mystery that tackles social issues outside the norm, “The Hidden Girl” is a powerful, thought-provoking choice. Just be prepared: it’s a book that demands discussion, making it an ideal read for teens and adults to explore together.
August 23, 2022
Melati has kept her head down the last year at school. Nobody knows the trouble she caused in Year 9, and Year 10 at her new private school is supposed to make up for it. At least, to her parents. Now in Year 11, with even her best friend believing butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, the real Melati breaks free again.
A student named Libby Hartnett who is also the daughter of one of the school's benefactors, is the school bully. It's well known another student left the school the year before due to Libby's attacks and when Melati sees Libby kicking another girl, she can't stand by a moment longer.
She leaps to the other girl's defence, only to find herself in trouble - again. Melati can't believe it. Doing the right thing ended up being the wrong thing. Grabbing an opportunity to find some dirt on Libby, Melati discovers a diary in Libby's school file. But it can't be Libby's as it is written in Indonesian. Although they both are in the Indonesian Language class, she knows Libby's skills aren't as good as hers and even she struggles to read it.
When she does begin to decipher the entries in the diary, she is horrified at what she sees. Who can she ask about it? She will be expelled if anyone knew she'd taken the diary. Keeping her secret and incredibly relieved to be still allowed on the upcoming school trip to Indonesia - Melati works hard at ignoring Libby's constant and underhand tactics to get her to react.
Time in Indonesia is another melting pot of trouble. Melati meets a boy, breaks more rules and Libby is triumphant. However, the trouble Melati is in works in her favour. With a mystery to solve, a new friend to help her and the final reveal of the diary - Libby is far from her mind.
Now Melati knows for sure - the diary is a cry for help, but is she too late?
A bully, possible revenge and a strange diary, kicks off this tale that twists and turns. At least half way through the book I had as many questions as the main character, but all is slowly revealed. This isn't a 'They all lived happily ever after' story either.
Perceptions of teachers, parents and even a bully are tested in a tale of private school privilege, doing what's right, and caring for someone you've never met. The main character's determination to save a girl from human trafficking is a long process and not easy. Just getting authorities to believe her is a struggle. All the while an expulsion hangs over her by a thread, but she perseveres knowing a 16 year old girl is a sex slave somewhere in Melbourne.
Author - Louise Bassett
Age - 14+
A student named Libby Hartnett who is also the daughter of one of the school's benefactors, is the school bully. It's well known another student left the school the year before due to Libby's attacks and when Melati sees Libby kicking another girl, she can't stand by a moment longer.
She leaps to the other girl's defence, only to find herself in trouble - again. Melati can't believe it. Doing the right thing ended up being the wrong thing. Grabbing an opportunity to find some dirt on Libby, Melati discovers a diary in Libby's school file. But it can't be Libby's as it is written in Indonesian. Although they both are in the Indonesian Language class, she knows Libby's skills aren't as good as hers and even she struggles to read it.
When she does begin to decipher the entries in the diary, she is horrified at what she sees. Who can she ask about it? She will be expelled if anyone knew she'd taken the diary. Keeping her secret and incredibly relieved to be still allowed on the upcoming school trip to Indonesia - Melati works hard at ignoring Libby's constant and underhand tactics to get her to react.
Time in Indonesia is another melting pot of trouble. Melati meets a boy, breaks more rules and Libby is triumphant. However, the trouble Melati is in works in her favour. With a mystery to solve, a new friend to help her and the final reveal of the diary - Libby is far from her mind.
Now Melati knows for sure - the diary is a cry for help, but is she too late?
A bully, possible revenge and a strange diary, kicks off this tale that twists and turns. At least half way through the book I had as many questions as the main character, but all is slowly revealed. This isn't a 'They all lived happily ever after' story either.
Perceptions of teachers, parents and even a bully are tested in a tale of private school privilege, doing what's right, and caring for someone you've never met. The main character's determination to save a girl from human trafficking is a long process and not easy. Just getting authorities to believe her is a struggle. All the while an expulsion hangs over her by a thread, but she perseveres knowing a 16 year old girl is a sex slave somewhere in Melbourne.
Author - Louise Bassett
Age - 14+
October 27, 2025
📚The Hidden Girl
✍🏻Louise Bassett
Blurb:
Within the pages of a stolen diary, Melati discovers a coded cry for help – the diary belongs to Devi, an Indonesian teenager who is being held by traffickers. Mel races across the island of Java and against the clock to work out Devi’s identity and where she's being held. Before long the pieces fall into place and Mel must put her own life on the line to save a girl she’s never met.
My Thoughts:
Melati Nelson has won a scholarship to an exclusive Melbourne High School. This is a new start for her after she got into trouble at her old school. But as hard as she tries to be good, Mel still comes up against the class bully which sees her with a strike against her name and weekly sessions with the school councillor.
Left alone in his office, Mel does some snooping - hoping to find some dirt on her nemesis. Instead she finds a strange diary written in Indonesian. The one subject that Mel enjoys is Indonesian - having lived there as a child. So, with her knowledge of the language, and a school trip to Indonesia, Mel starts translating the diary and uncovers a shocking story of a young Indonesian girl that has been sold to traffickers.
With the help of a boy she meets in Indonesia, Mel is determined to uncover the mysteries of the diary and rescue it’s author.
This is a fast paced mystery that covers a lot of ground. From bullying to the desperate measures some families in Indonesia need to take in order to survive.
✅Readers of YA mystery/adventures will enjoy this one.
Thanks to NetGalley, Walker Publishing Group and Author Louise Bassett for the complimentary ARC. I am leaving my review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#WalkerPublishingGroup
#LouiseBassett
#TheHiddenGirl
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Louise Bassett
Blurb:
Within the pages of a stolen diary, Melati discovers a coded cry for help – the diary belongs to Devi, an Indonesian teenager who is being held by traffickers. Mel races across the island of Java and against the clock to work out Devi’s identity and where she's being held. Before long the pieces fall into place and Mel must put her own life on the line to save a girl she’s never met.
My Thoughts:
Melati Nelson has won a scholarship to an exclusive Melbourne High School. This is a new start for her after she got into trouble at her old school. But as hard as she tries to be good, Mel still comes up against the class bully which sees her with a strike against her name and weekly sessions with the school councillor.
Left alone in his office, Mel does some snooping - hoping to find some dirt on her nemesis. Instead she finds a strange diary written in Indonesian. The one subject that Mel enjoys is Indonesian - having lived there as a child. So, with her knowledge of the language, and a school trip to Indonesia, Mel starts translating the diary and uncovers a shocking story of a young Indonesian girl that has been sold to traffickers.
With the help of a boy she meets in Indonesia, Mel is determined to uncover the mysteries of the diary and rescue it’s author.
This is a fast paced mystery that covers a lot of ground. From bullying to the desperate measures some families in Indonesia need to take in order to survive.
✅Readers of YA mystery/adventures will enjoy this one.
Thanks to NetGalley, Walker Publishing Group and Author Louise Bassett for the complimentary ARC. I am leaving my review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#WalkerPublishingGroup
#LouiseBassett
#TheHiddenGirl
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 29, 2022
Bassett exposes the young adult reader to the insidious crime of child sex trafficking that goes on, in this case, in Indonesia into Australia. Although this is an issue we may not want our younger readers to be exposed to, Bassett does it "carefully" - with the physical side of it being mostly implicit.
Melati is in year 11 at a private girls' school in Melbourne (on a scholarship) having moved from her previous school where she had a reputation for being rebellious and running on the wrong side of the law at times. She has settled in pretty well (keeping her head low) and has made a very good (and understanding) friend, Rachel. Unfortunately, Mel has become a target of bullying by popular girl, Libby. A series of events (involving Libby) sees Mel in the possession of a diary written in Indonesian. As she tries to translate it, it becomes apparent that the author is a young girl (Devi) who is being held against her will and being made to be a sex worker. Mel becomes obsessed with helping this girl and is able to do some investigating while on the School's Indonesia trip. She is aided by Michael, a Melbourne boy holidaying over there (and potential love interest). Mel jeopardises her place in the school but is compelled to do whatever it takes to save Devi.
This is a fast-paced book that should keep the teen reader engaged. My only criticism is that at times Mel seems to "forget" her self-made mission and her obligations as Rachel's best friend.
This should be a good book to recommend to teens who want something to read that deals with a social issue outside of their normal lives.
Melati is in year 11 at a private girls' school in Melbourne (on a scholarship) having moved from her previous school where she had a reputation for being rebellious and running on the wrong side of the law at times. She has settled in pretty well (keeping her head low) and has made a very good (and understanding) friend, Rachel. Unfortunately, Mel has become a target of bullying by popular girl, Libby. A series of events (involving Libby) sees Mel in the possession of a diary written in Indonesian. As she tries to translate it, it becomes apparent that the author is a young girl (Devi) who is being held against her will and being made to be a sex worker. Mel becomes obsessed with helping this girl and is able to do some investigating while on the School's Indonesia trip. She is aided by Michael, a Melbourne boy holidaying over there (and potential love interest). Mel jeopardises her place in the school but is compelled to do whatever it takes to save Devi.
This is a fast-paced book that should keep the teen reader engaged. My only criticism is that at times Mel seems to "forget" her self-made mission and her obligations as Rachel's best friend.
This should be a good book to recommend to teens who want something to read that deals with a social issue outside of their normal lives.
November 13, 2025
Melati Nelson has had a challenging couple of years, but after receiving a scholarship to an elite high school in Melbourne, she has the rare opportunity to reform her identity. Changing her ways is difficult to do when the school bully has selected Melati as a target, however, and in a moment of defiance, Melati decides to take a mysterious diary from her school counselor’s office. Something about the diary calls to Melati, and as she works to translate the words from Indonesian to English, frightening secrets come to light. A school trip to Indonesia gives Melati the opportunity to learn more about the diary writer’s life, turning the journey into an important step that can hopefully put an end to a harrowing set of circumstances. This weighty young adult novel examines several challenging topics through the lens of a girl who feels she is destined for trouble as a result of an unfortunate birthmark. Strong language, mature subject matter, and Australian slang appear throughout the narrative, placing readers squarely in the context of a tenacious teenager’s attempts to comprehend the unthinkable. Though slow to begin, the plot intensifies as the diary’s secrets come to the surface, and readers will approach the remainder of the book with curiosity. The narrative requires some general worldliness and understanding of human trafficking to truly resonate, and it rewards mature readers with a fictional investigation of this all-too-real occurrence. Heavy yet hopeful, this young adult novel is a unique addition to library collections for mature readers.
September 6, 2022
Mel is working hard to stay under the radar and make the most of her scholarship at a new school. But when the class bully attacks a defenceless student, her values impel her to act. Obligated to attend counselling sessions, she takes an opportunity to look at the file of her antagonist. She steals a dairy from the file, but quickly realises that it belong to an unknown Indonesian girl. Being a student of the language, she sets about to interpret the writing as best she can. While on a class trip to Indonesia, she meets Michael, on holidays from Melbourne. With his assistance, the two set about to save the Hidden Girl, who is being held against her will back in Melbourne.
“The Hidden Girl” by Louise Bassett is an easy-to-read, fast-paced and engaging book. It is aimed at a YA audience, but with its solid mystery, themes of sex trafficking and breaking the rules for the good of others has a wider appeal.
Set in both Melbourne and Indonesia, Bassett provides rich and vibrant descriptions, allowing the reader to almost feel like they are in the scene. The characters are flawed, believable and deeply endearing. Bassett provides an intimate and accurate account of teenage angst, rebellion, and the difficulties some young people have trying to conform and fit in. There is a little of Mel in all of us.
Recommended for those who love adventure, a mystery to be solved, and a touch of romance.
“The Hidden Girl” by Louise Bassett is an easy-to-read, fast-paced and engaging book. It is aimed at a YA audience, but with its solid mystery, themes of sex trafficking and breaking the rules for the good of others has a wider appeal.
Set in both Melbourne and Indonesia, Bassett provides rich and vibrant descriptions, allowing the reader to almost feel like they are in the scene. The characters are flawed, believable and deeply endearing. Bassett provides an intimate and accurate account of teenage angst, rebellion, and the difficulties some young people have trying to conform and fit in. There is a little of Mel in all of us.
Recommended for those who love adventure, a mystery to be solved, and a touch of romance.
August 2, 2022
I found Hidden Girl to be a gripping page-turner which meant that I quickly whizzed through it. The novel takes place in Melbourne and Indonesia and focuses on a teen/young woman who is trying to turn over a new leaf after her darker instincts have got her into a fair bit of trouble in the past.
What stands out as a positive to me in the novel is the total lack of cliche, both in terms of character and the environment. This is not a cuddly 'girl-makes-good' story and the subject matter, that includes both sex trafficking/prostitution, takes it out of the usual YA ambit. Nevertheless, despite the 'adult' content, the young characters navigate these confronting issues in a believable age-appropriate way.
The segments set in Indonesia and inner-city Melbourne provide a really good feeling of the environment in each place.
Finally though, and why this book is a page-turner is that the reader is taken on an emotional journey that is, in parts, genuinely moving. It is this more than anything that is the real achievement of The Hidden Girl, it just carries you along because you are made to care about the main actors as it builds to a thrilling climax.
What stands out as a positive to me in the novel is the total lack of cliche, both in terms of character and the environment. This is not a cuddly 'girl-makes-good' story and the subject matter, that includes both sex trafficking/prostitution, takes it out of the usual YA ambit. Nevertheless, despite the 'adult' content, the young characters navigate these confronting issues in a believable age-appropriate way.
The segments set in Indonesia and inner-city Melbourne provide a really good feeling of the environment in each place.
Finally though, and why this book is a page-turner is that the reader is taken on an emotional journey that is, in parts, genuinely moving. It is this more than anything that is the real achievement of The Hidden Girl, it just carries you along because you are made to care about the main actors as it builds to a thrilling climax.
November 6, 2022
What would you do if you found a diary?
I am pretty sure I wouldn't do what Melati did!
However I would try to help, just not in this way.
But, for the reading journey it was quite cool to think of her exploits to uncover the truth.
In this light mystery that does touch on some heavy themes, you can't help but be involved in solving what has become of Devi.
It was a fast, enjoyable YA read and just what I needed to read over the weekend.
I am pretty sure I wouldn't do what Melati did!
However I would try to help, just not in this way.
But, for the reading journey it was quite cool to think of her exploits to uncover the truth.
In this light mystery that does touch on some heavy themes, you can't help but be involved in solving what has become of Devi.
It was a fast, enjoyable YA read and just what I needed to read over the weekend.
November 16, 2023
The Hidden Girl is an exciting, fast-paced read: Mel (Melati) finds a diary belonging to Devi, an Indonesian teenager being held by traffickers. But can she discover Devi's identity and where she is in Java before it's too late? Wonderfully detailed and crafted, The Hidden Girl, shortlisted for the Ampersand Prize, will glue readers to the page with action, plot-twists and original, compelling characters. Highly recommend!!
January 10, 2026
The Hidden Girl recommended for ages for 14-18 is a powerful, mysterious, unpredictable, and suspenseful book! I love that this book features a girl with a tarnished past who is willing to change everything to chase opportunity and willing to risk everything to do what is right. When these conflict she is put in an impossible position. Is a solving a mystery that could save someone's life worth risking her future? This main character is truly an inspiring and so imperfectly relatable.
August 23, 2022
The Hidden Girl is a compelling and gripping read that explores difficult territory in an accessible and sensitive way. Amidst the ups and downs of teenage girl-world dynamics, and whilst navigating her first romance, Melati manages to solve a mystery and assist a young Indonesian girl's cry for help.
Great read!
Great read!
July 22, 2022
Lighter read when you’re in a bit of a slump. I liked the characters and could not put the book down. To some extent, I feel like this could’ve been fleshed out a bit more as it did feel a little rushed and the transitions felt weird. But overall, I really liked this book.
August 14, 2022
A confession, I know the author so I'm biased! If you're looking for a young adult read that is fast-paced, compelling, moving, international (set in Australia and Indonesia) and deals with a fight for justice then this is for you.
September 12, 2022
In her debut novel, Louise Bassett sets a high bar with a quality novel tackling modern issues. Her deft use of language keeps the reader hooked and her ability to get inside the heads of young adults was convincing.
July 25, 2025
I’m only just starting to get back into reading and I read this cover to cover in one day. I had to know what was going to happen next and could not put it down. Thoroughly enjoyable and gripping read!
May 29, 2022
A bit different. Great diverse characters. Tense.
Confronts big issues that the world needs to do more about. Gah!
Confronts big issues that the world needs to do more about. Gah!
August 28, 2022
A gripping story - I could not put this book down.
September 4, 2022
Really enjoyed this young adult suspense novel.
September 13, 2022
Outstanding. Review to come.
October 20, 2022
A fairly far-fetched story about a couple of teens delving into serious crime matters in Australia and abroad.
December 17, 2023
This was a random choice I picked up because it was available as an eRead from my local library. I really enjoyed it and thought it was a fun interesting story.
December 30, 2024
Full disclosure I am not a teenager and I know the author but I really enjoyed this book and found it a rollercoaster of a journey riding the ups and downs of Melati. Highly recommend!
September 23, 2022
Gripping, charming, alarming, thrilling... various other ings. From the cover to the back I was hooked. A real, raw protagonist, vile villains, and bright support acts. Tell Devi's story. The world will be better for hearing it.
August 25, 2022
Nicely paced mystery crime. Enjoyed the age setting and the myriad of depth in characters both main and ancillary. It was a fun read because of the different locations geographically and also because it was a bratty teenager who was solving the issues. If it was a detective, grown adult on a mission etc the only story would’ve been the mystery. This had so much more!
February 23, 2024
I think it’s a bit immature for such serious topics, so 3 stars.
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