Missing Sarah

Missing Sarah chronicles the life of Sarah de Vries, a woman who went missing from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside in 1998. The book is written by her adoptive sister Maggie de Vries, who pieces together Sarah's story through diary entries, photographs, and interviews with those who knew her. The narrative traces Sarah's path from her early childhood in a mixed-race adoptive family through her teenage years when she left home and became involved in street life. Through Sarah's own words and the accounts of friends and family, readers learn about her experiences as a sex worker in Vancouver's most vulnerable neighborhood. The author documents the police investigation into Sarah's disappearance and explores the broader context of missing women from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside during this period. She examines the institutional and societal factors that put women at risk and affected how these cases were handled. This memoir moves beyond one person's disappearance to examine questions of family bonds, social justice, and society's treatment of marginalized women. The book challenges readers to confront their assumptions about addiction, sex work, and the complex relationships between sisters.

Readers found this memoir of Sarah de Vries, who disappeared from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, to be intimate and honest in its portrayal of both Sarah's life and the author's grief. Many reviews noted the book's effectiveness in humanizing victims of violence against sex workers. Readers appreciated: - The inclusion of Sarah's diary entries and artwork - Balanced perspective showing Sarah's struggles without judgment - Clear examination of systemic issues facing vulnerable women Common criticisms: - Some sections felt repetitive - A few readers wanted more details about the investigation - The non-linear timeline confused some readers Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (119 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) One reader on Goodreads wrote: "This book puts a real face on the missing women of Vancouver." Another noted: "The love between these sisters shines through every page."

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🌟 Maggie de Vries was Sarah's adoptive sister and spent years searching Vancouver's Downtown Eastside for her before Sarah's DNA was found on Robert Pickton's farm. 🌟 Sarah de Vries kept detailed journals and wrote poetry throughout her life, many of which are included in the book, giving readers direct insight into her thoughts and experiences. 🌟 Prior to writing "Missing Sarah," Maggie de Vries was primarily known as a children's book author and editor. 🌟 The book helped bring attention to the more than 60 women who disappeared from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside between 1978 and 2001. 🌟 Sarah's story inspired several artistic works, including "The Missing" art installation by Pamela Masik, featuring large-scale portraits of Vancouver's missing women.