Review: THE VANISHING OF KATHARINA LINDEN

3.60 Stars from 1,517 GoodReaders
 ALA Alex Award (2011)
Carnegie Medal in Literature Nominee 

THE VANISHING OF KATHARINA LINDEN  reminds me of one of the PBS Mysteries set in a rural English village. The sort of place where everyone knows everyone else, and where there is not much that goes on that is private. Except in this case the setting is not Northampton or Derby, but a small village in Germany. And point of view is that of a child of 10, instead of an inquisitive older lady.

The story begins right off with a death, but it isn't the one you might expect. As the first line says: "My life might have been so different if I had not been known as the girl whose grandmother exploded!"

Certainly one of the most intriguing first lines I've run across lately. But the death of Pia's Oma Kristel is really unrelated to the tragedy that strikes the Linden family. Instead it serves as an event that allows the author the opportunity to set the stage and familiarize you with the characters. It isn't until later that the school girl, Katharina Linden, goes missing, and that under the most difficult of circumstances. For you see she vanishes in the middle of a huge event featuring everyone in town that is-and-isn't in a parade. And in a small town like that, you can well imagine the shock and concern. Is there some monster that has come into our community? Or worse, is it one of our neighbors that gone crazy? Concern and grief naturally lead the people to search their town's history for clues as to what could possible have happened. And try as they might to protect her, little Pia learns more than she should, and it's through her eyes that we see the mystery evolve.

I liked the setting of this book and the little bits of German that are used throughout. I thought it help anchor the story to Germany and made the events more real. (Having a daughter the age of Pia and Katharina made for a edgy read at times.)

There were delicious moments when I was left wondering whether Helen Grant was going to take the book off into the realm of mystical events; which may have had something to do with Schwarzwald-type setting, complete with ruins and legends of dark deeds, or with the fairytales that were told to Pia.

I think this book is best read when you're in a mood to savor a place and it's history and people. The story unfolds at a pace more reminiscent of the old Agatha Cristie books than one of the 'edge of your seat' modern reads where there's never a quiet moment. Well written.

Because of the pacing I'd say this is more a book for Young Adults and Adults rather than younger teens. No violence. Some language.

Pam~


THE VANISHING OF KATHARINA LINDEN
by Helen Grant

Reading Information:
Word Count: 90,533
Page Count:  304
Accelerated Reader: 6.1 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 154636
--sample pages and other reviews available