Lauren O'Neil was only 11 years old when she was kidnapped in broad daylight by a child molester. She was held hostage for 6 long years before she is rescued through sheer chance. Her abductor confesses, and Lauren is now safe. The problem is that she has endured so much horror during those 6 years at the hands of her kidnapper that it will take a long time and plenty of help for her to return to a normal life.

Her parents Rachel and Dan had searched tirelessly and continuously through those years to find Lauren and bring her back home. Rachel had been so obsessed with her mission that she seemed to have nearly forgotten that she has another daughter. Sierra was only 6 when Lauren was taken and she had to live with the ghost of her sister while her mother seemed to be more focused on finding Lauren than paying attention to the daughter that she still had with her. To her credit, Sierra isn't a brat to Lauren when she is found. In fact, Lauren seems to be more comfortable with Sierra than either of her parents.

Even though Lauren is now safe and undergoing some much needed therapy to re-introduce her to the world, it isn't going to be easy. Lauren has gone through more than any young girl should have to endure. Whether or not she recovers will be up to her and just how strong she can become.

Ripped right out of the headlines; AND THEN SHE WAS GONE shows what happens after a kidnapping victim is returned home. Rosalind Noonan does an excellent job of putting her characters in the same room with her readers. I found myself reacting to the actions of the various characters as I read. Rachel seriously got on my nerves for about half of the book. She really did need to be paying more attention to Sierra than she was, and I kind of wanted to shake her. Being a bit of a control freak, Rachel doesn't take well to the fact that Lauren doesn't want to come home yet. Dan is a very likable character and seems to understand Lauren more than Rachel is willing to do. Sierra is a great character! She's written perfectly for a 13 year old who has been overly-sheltered since Lauren's kidnapping as well as somewhat ignored by her mother.

AND THEN SHE WAS GONE is a realistic view of kidnapping victims that are taken so young and then rescued years later. Lauren is a combination of all of those young girls that make the news in this way. She is one of the 'lucky ones' in that she was found before it was too late.

At once suspenseful, heartbreaking and triumphant, AND THEN SHE WAS GONE should be on the must read list of everyone that truly enjoys an engrossing book with just the right amount of realism.

Book Summary

Eleven-year-old Lauren O'Neil vanished one sunny afternoon as she walked home from school. Six years later, her parents Rachel and Dan still tirelessly scour their Oregon hometown and beyond, always believing Lauren will be found. Then one day, the call comes. Lauren has been rescued from a secluded farm mere miles away, and her abductor has confessed. Yet her return is nothing like Rachel imagined. Though the revelations about what Lauren endured are shocking, most heartbreaking of all is to see the bright-eyed, assertive daughter she knew transformed into a wary, polite stranger. Lauren's first instinct is to flee. For years she's been told her parents forgot her; now she doubts the pieces of her life can ever fit together again. But Rachel refuses to lose her a second time. Little by little they must relearn what it means to be a family, trusting that their bond is strong enough to guide them back to each other.