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The Dorm
Andie Parker has just been told that she may have unconsciously taken on someone else's identity as a child. But how could this be? How could she not know who she is?
The police have found the body of a little girl in the basement of a missionary boarding school; a little girl they believe to be Andie Parker. But the woman living as Andie Parker knows this must be impossible. The little girl had to be her old dormmate, Miriam, who went missing at the age of seven. And yet, the police and even her own family aren't quite convinced she is who she says she is.
Now, Andie must relive her childhood trauma as she is confronted with flashbacks, horrible nightmares, and vignettes from her childhood, all while desperately trying to uncover missing memories, save her marriage, and reconnect with her estranged siblings. Can Andie discover who she really is, and find out what happened to the little girl in the basement?
The police have found the body of a little girl in the basement of a missionary boarding school; a little girl they believe to be Andie Parker. But the woman living as Andie Parker knows this must be impossible. The little girl had to be her old dormmate, Miriam, who went missing at the age of seven. And yet, the police and even her own family aren't quite convinced she is who she says she is.
Now, Andie must relive her childhood trauma as she is confronted with flashbacks, horrible nightmares, and vignettes from her childhood, all while desperately trying to uncover missing memories, save her marriage, and reconnect with her estranged siblings. Can Andie discover who she really is, and find out what happened to the little girl in the basement?
432 pages, Hardcover
Published March 2, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 19, 2025
I couldn’t put the book down, and then I got so far that I didn’t want to finish it because I wasn’t ready for it to be over. My mom grew up in the dorm referenced in this book, and she took my sister and I to her dorm room a few years back. I could picture everything the author mentioned from the areas of Quito to the details of the school. This story was heartbreakingly captivating and pulled you in to all of the emotional processes of facing nightmares and trauma and moving forward for your kids and other loved ones. Great read!
July 21, 2026
At nearly 500 pages, I think the story overstays its welcome in places. There were some stretches where I found myself wishing it had been closer to 300–350 pages.
What ultimately earned this book its fourth star wasn’t the story—it was what it revealed about me.
I grew up as a missionary kid in Quito, Ecuador. While I never lived in the dorm myself, many of my closest friends did. This was later, after the new dorm was built. I spent plenty of nights there and experienced that environment firsthand. Because of that, this book felt incredibly authentic. It’s labeled as fiction, but it reads more like a fictionalized memoir. If anything was actually changed or embellished, it never felt outside the realm of possibility.
What ultimately earned this book its fourth star wasn’t the story—it was what it revealed about me. Growing up as an MK shaped me in ways I hadn’t really stopped to consider. I became good at adapting, reading the room, and fitting into different environments. Those are valuable skills, but this book challenged me to ask whether I’ve found security in my ability to adapt more than in simply knowing who I am.
Beneath the mystery is a story about identity, belonging, healing, and the importance of community. It reminded me that we’re not meant to do life alone, and that while our past shapes us, it doesn’t have to define us.
Maybe the story could’ve been tighter, but the reflection it sparked in me was worth the extra pages.
What ultimately earned this book its fourth star wasn’t the story—it was what it revealed about me.
I grew up as a missionary kid in Quito, Ecuador. While I never lived in the dorm myself, many of my closest friends did. This was later, after the new dorm was built. I spent plenty of nights there and experienced that environment firsthand. Because of that, this book felt incredibly authentic. It’s labeled as fiction, but it reads more like a fictionalized memoir. If anything was actually changed or embellished, it never felt outside the realm of possibility.
What ultimately earned this book its fourth star wasn’t the story—it was what it revealed about me. Growing up as an MK shaped me in ways I hadn’t really stopped to consider. I became good at adapting, reading the room, and fitting into different environments. Those are valuable skills, but this book challenged me to ask whether I’ve found security in my ability to adapt more than in simply knowing who I am.
Beneath the mystery is a story about identity, belonging, healing, and the importance of community. It reminded me that we’re not meant to do life alone, and that while our past shapes us, it doesn’t have to define us.
Maybe the story could’ve been tighter, but the reflection it sparked in me was worth the extra pages.
May 3, 2022
excellent book!
This was one of the best books I have ever read. I did not want it to end!
As an MK growing up in Mexico, much of this resonated with me.
This was one of the best books I have ever read. I did not want it to end!
As an MK growing up in Mexico, much of this resonated with me.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews