In Plain Sight

by Laura Langston

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Fifteen-year-old Megan ""Cause Queen"" Caliente is president of the political science club and likes to make her voice heard. But after the protest she organized on the Las Vegas Strip takes an unexpected turn, she is suddenly wishing she could disappear. When her mother comes to pick her up at the police station, Megan learns, to her horror, that her whole life has been a lie. Her father is a convicted terrorist, responsible for the deaths of more than two hundred people, and her mother has been living under an assumed name for fifteen years. Megan's mom is taken away in handcuffs, and Megan is expected to return to her regular life under the supervision of her aunt. But everyone, students and teachers alike, is treating her differently now. Cruel accusations and gossip, as well as persistent reporters, follow her everywhere. Worried that she is destined to follow in her father's footsteps, Megan, with the help of the charismatic Matt Mendez, the only person at school who hasn't turned on her, decides to track down the father she thought was dead and get some answers.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

160 pages, Library Binding

First published February 7, 2017

About the author

By the time she hit Grade Four, Laura Langston knew she wanted to be a writer. So did the teachers. It was the persistent daydreaming and invisible friends that tipped them off. Since Laura grew up knowing no writers – and consequently didn’t know how to be one – she became a journalist instead. The trouble is, journalists are expected to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

But making stuff up is way more fun. So eventually Laura traded one notebook for another and today she writes books for tweens, teens, children and sometimes adults.

When she’s not writing, reading or walking her Shetland sheepdogs, Laura can be found spying on people in the grocery store or twisting herself into a pretzel in yoga class. To learn more, visit www.lauralangston.com. Follow her at www.facebook.com/LauraLangston.Author

Reviews

[Megan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at A Writer Reads.

I really liked this! I mean, it’s always a roulette with hi-lo books, since the writing can be either brilliant or mediocre fairly easily. It’s the difference between My First Board Book and The Old Man and the Sea—simple vs. style. With In Plain Sight, though, Langston’s simplicity emphasizes the struggles going on in Megan’s head. The reader watches her trying to come to grips with her heritage, unsure whether her own political leanings are inherited, and if she’ll one day turn from chants and marches to bombs. It would have been easy for Langston to just repeat the same sentiments throughout, but each time Megan confronts her fears, it’s from a different angle and with a bit more background knowledge. Seeing her grow in such a short span impresses the writer in me.

I liked the timely nature of the story, as well. We live in a world where domestic terror attacks are becoming more common, unfortunately, and hardly a month passes by without some new name or event being plastered all over the news. However, the perpetrators of these crimes rarely exist in utter isolation; they have families, too. Even “regular” criminals do. In Plain Sight raises questions about just treatment towards the children of convicted felons and the bullying they face when people find out about a past those children might not even have been a part of.

[Lisa McManus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this timely book in one sitting. Tackling a sensitive topic, Langston writes of a teen learning about the impact of choices, judgments and stereotyping - all with smooth writing anyone can enjoy. This highly experienced, multi-published author strikes home again with a story that sucks you in and still holds you long after you close the book. Langston's skill at creating main characters who are sympathetic, real, and down-to-earth is spot on - Megan Caliente is a character I hope to see in future stories. She's real, her journey feels like it could happen to anyone, and she comes out on top learning from her choices and from those of loved ones. I highly recommend this read.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura finds out that her whole life has been a lie when she is detained by the police at a protest. Her mom has been hiding in plain sight under a fake name in an attempt to protect Laura from the fact that her father is a terrorist and is in jail, not dead as Laura has always believed. She now struggles with these new truths and the mean gossip that starts to circulate.

A hi-lo about families, friendships, and figuring out who you really are and what's important to you.

[Shyla Colt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Top marks for uniqueness and tackling a heavy topic. I can't imagine discovering your mother has lied to you about everything in your life, and your father is a terrorist. The book started off strong, but petered out in the way it dealt with the issues. The shock that would come with the discoveries Megan had could not be dealt with in 144 pages. For that reason the story felt rushed to me, and the ending felt flat and anticlimactic.

[Sheri Radford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A teen learns that her entire life has been a lie - and her parents are not who she thought they were - in this quick, compelling read for teens who struggle with reading. It sheds light on what it's like to be an average, everyday teen who learns that her father was a terrorist who committed a heinous atrocity.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short read, enjoyed the story but the ending felt very unfinished to me

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting storyline

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was engaging and did not follow any type of standard plot devices. Great to see a daughter and mother team who don't hate each other.

The book was short, but I liked it.

[Nayelli]

I like the book