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Description
Fourteen-year-old Simone is having trouble making friends at her new school when her leadership studies class is paired with kindergarten students to mentor throughout the school year.
To her surprise, Simone enjoys the Kinderbuddy Project, and she develops a special friendship with her Kinderbuddy, Lily. But as the bond between Simone and her Kinderbuddy grows, she realizes that a crisis is looming in Lily's family. Simone calls upon Aaron, the reluctant heartthrob of the class, for help, and they become key witnesses to events neither of them could have predicted.
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Contributor Notes
Karen Spafford-Fitz studied English Language and Literature at Queen’s University. She next completed a degree in education and taught elementary and junior-high students for eight years. Two daughters and one move across the country later, Karen began creating stories for children and teenagers. Vanish is her second middle-grade novel. When Karen is not writing, she is often training for her next half-marathon.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 9 to 12
- Grade:
- 4 to 7
- Reading age:
- 9 to 12
Awards
- Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
Editorial Reviews
"Teens will identify with Simone’s attempts to make new friends in the unfriendly environment of middle school...Younger readers will enjoy the slight mystery, and the rapid narrative will engage reluctant readers."
— Booklist
"A fast-paced book that tackles a hard issue in a surprisingly minimal amount of pages. The dialogue adds to the storyline and helps to make the characters endearing...A great story for reluctant readers."
— Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group (SOYAMRG)
"A reluctant reader book that should be in libraries."
— CM: Canadian Review of Materials
"Spafford-Fitz weaves the subplots together effortlessly to create a rich reading experience."
— VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) Magazine
"Spafford-Fitz successfully builds the mood as she gradually reveals more about Lily's family."
— School Library Journal (SLJ)
