The Vanished Ones

One orphaned tween’s restrictive religious upbringing triggers an existential epiphany in this contemplative adventure by Lucas (You Owe Me, Universe). Raised in Mission on the Hill, a faction of the Order of the Right Hand located on western Rhodenroode Island, 13-year-old Darian possesses a keen intellect and inquisitive nature, traits that initially garner praise from their wizened leader, the Apostle. But as the only resident with “deep brown skin,” Darian wants to know where his own people came from; why he and his only friend Micah, a boy who speaks in sign language, were accused of “intimate fraternization”; and why members have been vanishing from the Mission without explanation. The rigid monotony of life at Mission on the Hill gives way to rollicking adventure when Micah, accompanied by Darian, flees during a storm. The novel’s initially enigmatic opening turns brisk and thrilling as the boys encounter Zaide, a girl from the east with skin like Darian’s. It’s amid her community that Darian begins to piece together the puzzle of his lineage and uncover the truth behind his peers’ disappearances. Darian and Micah’s budding romance is a tender addition to this absorbing and hopeful tale. Ages 10–14. Agent: Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis. (Jan.)