Hidden by Helen Frost

Hidden by Helen Frost. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.

Wren and Dara see each other at camp and immediately recognize one another from their previous encounter six years earlier. A man (Darra’s father) stole a car, not realizing that Wren was in the backseat. The man drove the car to his garage and Wren quickly hid from him, instinctively knowing she was in danger. She was terrified, hungry and thirsty and she was trapped in the thief’s garage, unable to tell anyone or get out.

Watching a newscast , Darra realized what must have happened and that Wren may be in the garage somewhere. She decided to try to help Wren and leave out food and water (ostensibly for the cat) along with a blanket. A few days later, the police come to her house to arrest her father and she realizes that Wren somehow escaped. Darra blames Wren for Darra’s father’s arrest.

Neither girl ever said anything to anyone else about what happened. Now, six years have passed and they are both grappling with events from that fateful encounter and with Darra’s father’s imminent release from prison.

This short novel in free verse is told from alternating viewpoints.  Recommended for grades 4 and up. 

Visit Helen Frost's website