HIDDEN by Helen Frost

A.R. Book Level: 3.9
A.R. Points: 3.0
Pages: 147

This is a novel written in verse (poems rather than paragraphs), which means a cool style of writing and a super-fast read!  This dramatic story is told from two points of view, by two different narrators, who interact at two different times of their lives.  As young girls, Wren and Darra cross paths when Darra’s dad steals a car, not knowing that Wren is hiding in the back.  Years later, they meet unexpectedly at summer camp and must relive memories of the carjacking that sent Darra’s dad to jail.  I don’t want to end this with “Can they ever be friends?” because that would make this sound too much like an easy kids’ book, when it’s really a complex and subtle story about coming to terms with fear and loss and people we perceive as enemies.