I'm Not Missing: A Novel

by Carrie Fountain

Overview

“Carrie Fountain’s YA novel is part-plot-twisty thriller, part-sweet romance, and perfect for summer reading!” —Bustle, Best YA Book of July, on I'm Not Missing

It’s senior year, and Miranda Black’s best friend, Syd, has run away—suddenly and inexplicably, leaving behind nothing but a pink leopard print cell phone with a text message from the mysterious HIM. Everyone wants to know why Syd left, but the truth is, Miranda has no idea. When Miranda’s mother abandoned her as a child, Miranda had found shelter in her friendship with Syd, who wore her own motherlessness like a badge of honor.

Now Miranda’s been left behind again, left to untangle the questions of why Syd left, where she is—and if she’s even a friend worth saving, all while stumbling into first love with the most unlikely boy in school. How do you take on the future when it feels like so much of your past wasn’t even real?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250132536
Publisher:	Flatiron Books
Publication date:	07/02/2019
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	1,129,664
Product dimensions:	5.13(w) x 8.07(h) x 0.76(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Carrie Fountain’s poems have appeared in Tin House, Poetry, and The New Yorker, among others. Her debut collection, Burn Lake, was a National Poetry Series winner and was published in 2010 by Penguin. Her second collection, Instant Winner, was published by Penguin in 2014. I'm Not Missing is her debut novel. Born and raised in Mesilla, New Mexico, Carrie received her MFA as a fellow at the James A. Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin. Currently writer-in-residence at St. Edward's University, she lives in Austin with her husband and their two children.

Editorial Reviews

Carrie Fountain’s YA novel is part-plot-twisty thriller, part-sweet romance, and perfect for summer reading.” —Bustle, Best YA Book of July

“Expertly charts both the splintering of a friendship and the blossoming of a first love. Fountain has created something big and essential with Missing. Miranda’s circumstances might be unique, her struggle with the challenges of growing up is universal—which makes Missing a must-read for teenagers and the adults who hope to understand them.” —The Austin American-Statesman, Book Pick of the Month

“This fine debut novel by poet Carrie Fountain, set in Las Cruces, N.M., is a poignant exploration of love, loss, friendship, betrayal, and identity. A well-crafted novel that reveals itself to be a thrillingly intricate mystery.” —The Buffalo News

“Readers will see themselves or people they know on every page. A must-read for any teen who’s felt the pain of lost friendship and the challenge of finding herself.” —BookPage

“As Mir starts to piece together clues about Syd in this debut novel, the light thriller turns to romance à la John Green, with impeccable realism and spot-on dialogue. While Mir and Nick's relationship builds, the author never lets the mystery falter as she keeps readers guessing about Syd's secrets and whereabouts. A beautiful new voice to watch.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This thoughtful coming-of-age tale tenderly explores the great pain and power of forging one’s own identity as well as the inescapable influence of loved ones, even those who choose to be lost.” —The Horn Book

“In her debut novel, Fountain not only delivers a plot twist that resonates in the #MeToo era but also a sweet and convincing love story complete with a charmingly dorky heroine in half-Latina Miranda—who, in Syd’s absence, ultimately finds out who she can be when she’s not following in someone’s wake.” —Publishers Weekly

“I savored and cherished this funny, tender, poetic novel about yearning, love, loss, ambition, and the big questions of life. When I turned the last page, I felt joy for knowing these characters, and a rare and unique sadness that I’d never again get to read this novel for the first time.” —Margo Rabb, author of Kissing in America and Cures for Heartbreak

“I’m Not Missing is an utterly captivating, suspenseful, character-rich gift of a book. The interweaving of place, people, drama is so compelling. I laughed, I cried, I was seventeen again. This book has won my heart.” —Naomi Shihab Nye, award-winning author of Habibi

From the Publisher

05/14/2018
Miranda has always been in the shadow of her best friend, Syd. Syd’s the one with the plan to get out of New Mexico by doing every extracurricular activity and being number one in their class; Miranda just goes along with it. Neither girl’s mother is on the scene, but Miranda has a supportive, involved father, whereas Syd’s dad is a mean drunk. Syd’s on course for Stanford when, suddenly, she takes off. No messages, no texts, no nothing, and just one note—for the guy who broke Miranda’s heart by standing her up when they were juniors. Grieving and confused, Miranda eventually learns more about her crush, about Syd and her many secrets, and, perhaps most importantly, about herself and her capabilities. In her debut novel, Fountain not only delivers a plot twist that resonates in the #MeToo era but also a sweet and convincing love story complete with a charmingly dorky heroine in half-Latina Miranda—who, in Syd’s absence, ultimately finds out who she can be when she’s not following in someone’s wake. Ages 13–18. (July)

Publishers Weekly

04/01/2018
Gr 10 Up—Miranda Black admires her best friend Syd, who always had her life mapped out, ever since their mothers left them; but when Syd disappears, leaving behind only cryptic messages, Miranda discovers how little she knew about her friend. Following Syd's directive not to look for her, Miranda attempts to resume her life, including reconciling with the boy she loves, and learns that moving on requires finding Syd and getting some answers. Readers looking for a mystery would be better served by John Green's Paper Towns or Meg Rosoff's Picture Me Gone. While the mystery of Syd's disappearance unfolds predictably, what really shines in this novel is Miranda's attempts at getting her life back after Syd's disappearance. There are plenty of sweet moments between Miranda and Nick as they progress from former enemies to lovers. Miranda's relationship with her father is also well crafted and a sharp contrast to her relationship with Syd, which may make readers wonder why Miranda was drawn to her best friend in the first place. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries seeking contemporary romance with a bit of a twist.—Mimi Powell, Library Systems and Services, Kissimmee, FL

School Library Journal

2018-03-20
In the process of searching for important people who have disappeared from her life, Miranda finds herself.Ever since her Latina mother left to join a religious cult, biracial Miranda has been raised by her caring white dad who works for NASA in New Mexico. Coincidentally, her best friend, Sydney, had an alcoholic mother who also abandoned the family. Even though Syd hasn't had it as easy as Mir, she's always been supportive of her, especially after the "Nick Allison Event," when Mir's date bailed on prom night. But then Syd vanishes too, leaving only a note: "I'm gone. I'm not missing." As Mir starts to piece together clues about Syd in this debut novel, the light thriller turns to romance à la John Green, with impeccable realism and spot-on dialogue. Mir also learns the truth about her longtime crush, Nick, and what really happened on prom night. Mir's an endearing teen who chants the Gettysburg Address in place of religious mantras in times of stress, feels safe asking her dad tough questions about first love, and takes control of her body (and pleasure) when it comes to sex. While Mir and Nick's relationship builds, the author never lets the mystery falter as she keeps readers guessing about Syd's secrets and whereabouts. The ending is really a beginning as Mir finds both support and inner resilience.A beautiful new voice to watch. (Fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews