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Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Missing From Me by Kathleen Stone is a moving coming-of-age novel set in the summer of 1975, where two emotionally isolated children form a deep, life-altering bond. We’re with Daisy Nicolazzi, who is fifteen and burdened by body image issues and family pressures. She finds a kindred spirit in Jett Fontenot, her ten-year-old neighbor with synesthesia and a love for old movies and blues music. Both outcasts form a profound friendship that helps them navigate bullying, trauma, and personal demons. As Daisy’s struggle with self-harm and societal expectations intensifies, the question of how far one will go to save a friend (and oneself) takes center stage. Through beautifully drawn characters and raw emotion, the novel explores acceptance, love, and the painful road to self-discovery.
Author Kathleen Stone has a knack for writing about people like they’re old friends, and this warmth comes through immediately from the very opening section of this novel so that we get to know her characters as well as she does. There’s a lot of honesty and compassion in Daisy’s struggles with the pangs of adolescence, issues of mental health, and finding connection, and everyone will be able to think back to those unsure times in their lives where these problems resonated strongest. I loved the way Daisy and Jett’s relationship is portrayed, with strong dialogue choices that immediately characterize their differences, and tender, powerful, and unforgettable conversations that suddenly shine a light on their similarities, and those bonds anchor them to one another in a storm of teenage hardship. The plot is slow-burning but always interesting, offering a deeply resonant story that tackles difficult topics with grace, courage, and emotional depth. What results is a poignant, lyrical, and unflinching look at the wounds we carry around with us, and the healing power of friendship, which is a much-needed lesson in love and kindness in the world right now. Overall, I would certainly recommend Missing From Me for fans of realistic and heartfelt drama.
