Search - Songs for the Missing

Stewart O'Nan allows his readers to glimpse the lives of those who alternately hope and mourn during the agony of a missing 18-year old girl, Kim. The day-to-day existence is charted from the individual perspectives of those who loved Kim, and how each attempts to cope with her disappearance. It alters relationships between everyone involved in the search to understand what happened to Kim. O'Nan is particularly gifted at these poignant descriptions, and allows the reader to experience all the emotions in this unimaginable event. It also makes us aware of the very real experiences of those whom we see on television pleading for help in finding a missing person. This book will continue to haunt me for a long time.

Heart-wrenching but sometimes tedious. Not bad but not his best.

Well written tale of the trauma of a family whose teenage daughter goes missing. It is a mystery as well as a look at the actions people take to recover a lost child. It's so honestly told you begin to wonder if it's a real true life story.