Disappeared

Sara Zapata works as a journalist in Juárez, Mexico, reporting on missing girls who have disappeared from the city. When her best friend Linda vanishes and Sara receives threatening messages about her reporting, she must decide how far she will go to uncover the truth. Sara's brother Emiliano faces his own challenges as he tries to support his family through legitimate business ventures, despite tempting opportunities from drug cartels. The siblings' paths intersect as they navigate corruption, danger, and difficult choices in their border city. Their parallel investigations pull them into a complex web of crime and power that puts both their principles and lives at risk. As the stakes escalate, Sara and Emiliano confront questions about justice, truth, and survival in their community. The novel explores themes of moral courage, family loyalty, and the human cost of cartel violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Through its dual narratives, it examines how young people maintain hope and integrity in the face of systemic corruption.

Readers describe an intense, fast-paced story that tackles difficult topics like cartel violence and human trafficking while remaining appropriate for young adult audiences. Readers appreciated: - The dual perspectives between siblings Sara and Emiliano - Authentic portrayal of life in Juárez, Mexico - Balance between action and character development - Educational value about real-world issues - Clean writing without graphic violence Common criticisms: - Slow start in first 50 pages - Some found the ending rushed - Secondary characters could be more developed Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (50+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 "A gripping story that doesn't shy away from harsh realities while remaining hopeful," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another Amazon reviewer mentioned: "The author clearly knows Juárez and brings authenticity to every scene." Several readers recommended it for high school classrooms to prompt discussions about immigration and border issues.

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📚 Author Francisco X. Stork was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and crossed the border into El Paso, Texas, as a child – giving him firsthand insight into the border experiences depicted in the novel. 🔍 The book's portrayal of cartel violence and disappearances in Ciudad Juárez is based on real events that occurred during Mexico's drug war, particularly between 2008 and 2012. ✍️ Stork wrote "Disappeared" while working as an attorney for a state agency in Boston, balancing his legal career with his passion for writing young adult fiction. 🌟 The novel received the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Best Fiction for Young Adults recognition in 2018. 🗣️ The story was partially inspired by the courageous Mexican journalists who risk their lives reporting on cartel activities, particularly female reporters like the character Sara in the book.