Review: The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes

The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes 

Ever since the night of the incident with Luke Willis, the preacher’s son, sophomore Hallelujah Calhoun has been silent. When the rumors swirled around school, she was silent. When her parents grounded her, she was silent. When her friends abandoned her … silent.
Now, six months later, on a youth group retreat in the Smoky Mountains, Hallie still can’t find a voice to answer the taunting. Shame and embarrassment haunt her, while Luke keeps coming up with new ways to humiliate her. Not even meeting Rachel, an outgoing newcomer who isn’t aware of her past, can pull Hallie out of her shell. Being on the defensive for so long has left her raw, and she doesn’t know who to trust.
On a group hike, the incessant bullying pushes Hallie to her limit. When Hallie, Rachel, and Hallie’s former friend Jonah get separated from the rest of the group, the situation quickly turns dire. Stranded in the wilderness, the three have no choice but to band together.
With past betrayals and harrowing obstacles in their way, Hallie fears they’ll never reach safety. Could speaking up about the night that changed everything close the distance between being lost and found? Or has she traveled too far to come back?

Publishes in US: February 17th 2015 by HarperTeen
Genre: ya contemp
Source: Harper Teen via Edelweiss
Series? no

Buy it:  BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON | KOBO | POWELL’S | INDIEBOUND

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    I wanted to read the distance between lost and found because I wanted to know what happened with Hallelujah nicknamed Hallie and Luke. Even though I thought that her silence was actually not speaking it ended up that she just wasn't standing up for herself.

    I know a lot about feeling left out and taking on blame and internalizing issues. So the fact that Hallie was so down about this spoke to me. There was some incredible character growth and opening up both emotionally and honestly evaluating what happened and the response from others.

    When she ends up lost with new friend Rachel and old one Jonah they are tested physically, emotionally and Hallie somewhat spiritually. They are on a youth group trip and Hallies parents are super involved with church. The book never felt pushy just the questions of a young girl who had grown up in church and wondering how or if the God she learned about fits into her world of hiding from others, feeling misunderstood, and now facing getting lost in the mountains.

     They faced being cold, rained on, injuries, and not having enough to eat. But they learned a lot about each other. Hallie finally talks about some of her pain. Wet also realize that her and Jonah used to be good friends sharing music and movies until one night things happened and Luke, their mutual then friend, began to spread lies about her. It was nice that they got things into the open.

     I liked Rachel more than I thought I would. At first she is just looking for an in at the party the counselors didn't know about, and then she is all cozy with Luke. But she keeps trying to engage with Hallie. I admit that I was suspicious right . Along with Halle but I also can't in with her prejudices and out look. But she is a nice girl and had good intentions. She was lonely in her own rights.

    The pacing was good and plot had enough character development, flash backs to the time when Halle changed and the details of the teens trying to survive until rescue found then.

    The romance was sweet and it fit the tone of the book. It didn't take center stage but was a long time crush not realized but finally kindled into something.

   The courage, persistence and ingenuity of the three of them was great. They came to rely on one another and saw that some of the ways they were living or thinking wasn't right.

     The ending was nice and it gave closure with hope for each of then moving forward. They learned from each other and their experience and I can just imagine how their next few months and into new school year night go for them.

Bottom Line: Good story and character development.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you ever been lost?