The Girl Who Wasn't There

The Girl Who Wasn't There, Penny Joelson YA Fiction, Mystery 304 pages 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

Nothing ever happens on Kasia's street. And Kasia would know, because her chronic illness keeps her stuck at home, watching the outside world from her bedroom window. So when she witnesses what looks like a kidnapping, she's not sure whether she can believe her own eyes...

There had been a girl in the window across the street who must have seen something too. But when Kasia ventures out to find her, she is told the most shocking thing of all: There is no girl.

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I loved this book! It was incredibly gripping and such a great read. The storyline flowed really nicely as there was a balance of mystery, love and friendship. The main character Kasia was a very determined, curious teenager and I really enjoyed reading the story in her POV and seeing her character develop throughout the book. Joelson wrote about Kasia, dealing with a chronic illness called ME (in simpler terms - chronic fatigue) . I found this to help with the storyline because Kasia struggled to venture around, so it slowed down clues and information about the girl in the window, which gave the book added suspense. I did not know what to expect with the girl in the window, I had a few ideas on what could be the truth however, it wasn’t predictable in the slightest! I really enjoyed the ending and I was impressed with how Joelson writes about serious issues and how to deal with them the correct way. A perfect read for young adults and it is a true coming of age story. Highly recommend!