Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz

One early morning on her way to meet up with her best friend, Jane is drugged and taken. When she wakes up, she discovers that she is in a room with a bed, supplies, and a bathroom. At first, she refuses to go along with the demands of her kidnapper, who she never sees after he takes her. He has a points system, where every chore she does in her small room earns her a point. With her points, she can ask for things like a notebook, a novel, and other harmless items. The only thing that really keeps Jane going is another one of the kidnapped teenagers – a boy named Mason. They develop a friendship forged by their mutual trauma. But when Jane has the opportunity to escape, she is unable to bring him with her.

Ten months after Jane is kidnapped, and three months after she returns from captivity, she decides to write down her story. In her story, all names and places have been changed. The story alternates between ‘now’ and ‘then.’ As she tries to adjust to “normal” life again, she must also face what she went through, what was real, and what wasn’t.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys hard-hitting young adult contemporary novels!

Darcy Lepore
Library Director

Available at the Langley Adams Library