Kira Bennett’s earliest memories are of living alone and wild in the woods. She has no idea how long she was on her own or what she had to do to survive, but she remembers the moment that Cady Bennett and one of her search-and-rescue dogs found her. Adopted into the Bennett family, Kira still struggles with human interaction years later, but she excels at the family business: search-and-rescue. Along with Cady’s son, Jude, and their neighbor, Free, Kira works alongside Cady to train the world’s most elite search-and-rescue dogs. Someday, all three teenagers hope to put their skills to use, finding the lost and bringing them home.
But when Cady’s estranged father, the enigmatic Bales Bennett, tracks his daughter down and asks for her help in locating a missing child—one of several visitors who has disappeared in the Sierra Glades National Park in the past twelve months—the teens find themselves on the front lines sooner than they could have ever expected. As the search through 750,000 acres of unbridled wilderness intensifies, Kira becomes obsessed with finding the missing child. She knows all too well what it’s like to be lost in the wilderness, fighting for survival, alone.
But this case isn’t simple. There is more afoot than a single, missing girl, and Kira’s memories threaten to overwhelm her at every turn. As the danger mounts and long-held family secrets come to light, Kira is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her adopted family, her true nature, and her past.
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“Emily Lawrence narrates Kira’s story in a deliberate tone…[and] delivers Kira’s thoughts and dialogue in the clipped voice of someone who is determined to hold herself together and to prove she is ready to take part in a life-or-death operation. As the search intensifies, Lawrence weaves Kira’s powerful reawakened memories into Kira’s careful narrative.”
— AudioFile
“An engaging, clever, suspenseful story in which readers—especially dog-loving teens—will easily lose themselves.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Barnes smartly maps the psychological landscape of a girl working through her early-life trauma, which makes this mystery, seen through Kira’s eyes, layered and compelling. The wilderness survival component ups the stakes, and for animal-loving teens, the dogs add an intriguing and little-seen element.”
— Booklist“Barnes sensitively addresses Kira’s childhood trauma, as well as her resulting anxiety…The twist-heavy, suspenseful plot will keep reluctant readers tuned in.”
— School Library Journal“A propulsive mystery-thriller…makes you feel the urgency of a search and rescue, while laying the clues for a twisted crime.”
— Maureen Johnson, author of Truly Devious“Knife-edged suspense, a fantastic plot, and authentic characters—both human and canine. The Lovely and the Lost grips you from the first page.”
— Allison Brennan, author of Cut and RunJennifer Lynn Barnes has written several acclaimed young adult novels. She has advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science. She received her PhD from Yale University and is now a professor of psychology.
Emily Lawrence, an actor and writer, is passionate about bringing stories to life. Her greatest strength as a performer is her ability to bring herself to the role, creating a wide range of emotionally resonant performances that leap off the page, stage, or screen. Her favorite characters are complicated, conflicted, and still searching for their inner truths. She has narrated more than 425 audiobooks, many of which were USA Today or New York Times bestsellers, and has also worked in film, television, and theater. Born and raised in New York, she moved to Los Angeles shortly after receiving her BFA in drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She also lived in London while studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Her greatest loves are acting and reading, so narrating audiobooks is a dream come true. Her other passions include traveling, LARPing, aerial circus, and chocolate.