Someone's Mother Is Missing

Lisa Allen's world of privilege and comfort crumbles when her father dies and her mother, unable to cope with her grief and the mounting debts, abandons her. Lisa and her sister, Robyn, move in with their aunt, uncle and cousin Sam. As Sam helps Lisa search for her mother, her longstanding dislike of her cousin gives way to a grudging respect. Mazer's two-dimensional characterizations of these protagonists cause the novel to fall short of its emotional and dramatic potential. His overly brief, choppy chapters omit many details and preclude examination of the characters' motives or the impact the events have on their lives. As a result, what could have been a stirring psychological adventure ends up as unconvincing melodrama. Ages 12-up. (Oct.)