Missing Mom

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Published by: Fire and Ice Young Adult Books
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Pages: 292
ASIN: B0DFTWMZBK

 Synopsis

Devastated by her mom’s sudden disappearance and the evidence pointing to suicide, seventeen-year-old Noelle, an aspiring ballet dancer, doesn’t believe her mom would ever have taken her own life. She undertakes her own investigation to find out what really happened to her mother.

Meantime, Noelle is dealing with growing romantic feelings for Ravi, her best friend and fellow dancer. And she’s worried about her little sister, Whitney, who won’t talk about why she doesn’t want to visit their dad.

Threaded throughout the novel is also the story of Savannah, a young woman whose escape from an abusive marriage nearly two decades earlier turns out to be connected to Noelle’s investigation.

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Praise

"Lynn Slaughter has written a dual-time mystery with endearing characters and a twisty plot that will keep you turning the pages. Lynn's trademark backdrop of a dance studio, and a sweet love story for the main character, make for a rich tale that will keep young readers' interest and inspire them to follow their dreams. Noelle's persistence in solving the mystery of her mother's disappearance make her a character to root for. I loved this book!"
- Lee Tobin McClain, New York Times bestselling author of the Sacred Bond Guardians series

"The prologue pulled me in, alerting me that something terrible was about to happen to someone. Then, from the dynamic first chapter, the tension of a possible crime and the exacting demands of ballet artistry make it a page-turner. Missing Mom is a fast-paced, well-written YA mystery told in the voices of two female high school seniors, one present-day and one nineteen years in the past. How these lives intersect is for the reader to figure out through a deft trail of hints, but are they clues or just red herrings? Lynn Slaughter keeps the reader guessing until the end."
- Joan Wright Mularz, author of the award-winning YA novel SLATE

"Lynn Slaughter’s Missing Mom is both a suspenseful mystery and a movingly rendered coming-of-age story. The central narrative belongs to Noelle, an aspiring ballerina, whose life is upended when her mother disappears, an apparent suicide. Juxtaposed against Noelle’s pursuit of a mystery only she believes exists is a second narrative strand, told by the mysterious Savannah. As the dual storylines unfold and converge, Noelle and Savannah face decisions with life-and-death consequences. The author’s deep knowledge of ballet resonates with metaphoric force in the scenes devoted to Noelle’s nascent career. Ballet, like the heroine’s investigation, has a built-in and unforgiving clock. One wrong move, or one mistake in timing, guarantees failure. Missing Mom, however, hits every mark. Like a virtuoso ballerina, it twists, turns, and leaps to an unexpected and deeply moving conclusion."
- Lori Robbins, Amazon bestselling author of the On Pointe and Master Class mystery series

"Lynn Slaughter takes you on a dance through mystery and romance in this page-turner. MISSING MOM is a story of family, friendship, love, and loss, all amidst a tangled investigation. It gave me all the feels."
— Cindy Callaghan, award-winning author of JUST ADD MAGIC and MY BIG HEART-SHAPED FAIL

"Missing Mom, Lynn Slaughter’s latest coming of age romance/mystery, expertly weaves the stories of seventeen-year-old Noelle, an aspiring ballet dancer, whose mother goes missing, and of Savannah, a young woman whose escape from an abusive marriage nearly two decades ago. As Noelle investigates her mother’s presumed suicide, she juggles a budding romance and a sister who won’t share why she doesn’t want to be alone with their father. Slaughter keeps the readers guessing in a story of family trauma, dance, and love told with sensitivity and intelligence. A must read from a skilled author!"
- Ellen Birkett Morris, award-winning author of Beware the Tall Grass: A Novel and Lost Girls: Short Stories

"Lynn Slaughter's latest book sparkles with colorful characters and dialogue, centered around a family and an unexplained disappearance. We are invited into the drama of the family left behind, and also the story of the character who has gone missing. Lynn uses her strong background in dance as a secondary theme for two of the main characters, a duet that becomes more complex as the story unfolds. I could not put this book down!"
- Connie Bergstein Dow, Award-Winning Author of Tap and Rap, Move and Groove

"As a Young Adult mystery writer, Lynn Slaughter is unparalleled! ... She is at the top of her game in this book as she describes in word and action, the emotions of the young woman who does not believe that her mom committed suicide. A must-read for all lovers of mystery and good writing!"
-Mary Popham, Author of Back Home in Landing Run and Emmalene of Landing Run

"Lynn Slaughter has done it again-another literary tour de force mystery with Missing Mom. This book has it all and kept me breathlessly page-turning until the gut-wrenching final curtain. But is the dance really over?"
-Joy E. Held, Award-winning author of The Mermaid Riot

"Missing Mom beautifully illustrates the power of relationships and the connections we forge. Just as Noelle learns to lean on her friends and family, this book reminds us that the people we meet and the bonds we create enrich every adventure.

Noelle's relationships are not just a part of her journey, but the pillars supporting her in her quest for truth and self-discovery. This emphasis on the role of relationships in Noelle's journey will make readers feel a strong sense of connection to the story.

Lynn Slaughter's remarkable book invites readers to immerse themselves in a narrative that beautifully captures the essence of struggle and triumph. The heroine's journey is not just a tale of personal challenges; it reflects the resilience we all possess. As she navigates her path, readers can find echoes of their own experiences, making the story relatable and profoundly moving. Noelle's journey is one that will make readers feel understood, as they see their own struggles and triumphs reflected in her story."
-Midwest Book Review

"MISSING MOM is a wonderful, complex novel of a young woman's coming-of-age as she weathers loss and betrayal and falls in love. Though classified as a YA novel, this is a book adults will enjoy. Strongly recommended."
- Marilyn Levinson/Allison Brook~~author of the Haunted Library series and the Rufus and Magic Run Amok series