Ezekiel is almost 15 and in ninth grade at Downy High School. His usual mood is one of “resentful loneliness”. The other kids have actively avoided him since the fifth grade because they think he’s a thief, although he isn’t. He actually has a micropower, which enables him to find things that are lost and return them to their owner.

“It was as if he had been born with this mission in life: to see that all lost things were returned.”

Beth is almost 14 but is in tenth grade and declares she’s “smart enough for college”. She tells Ezekiel she’s “a proportionate dwarf” and her height is referenced at every opportunity during the book, often in offensive ways. Beth is Ezekiel’s only friend.

Ezekiel’s micropower is of interest to Dr. Withunga, who runs the Group of Rare and Useless Talents (GRUT). The others in the group also have their own individual talents, which run the gamut from being able to make people yawn to knowing if someone’s belly button is an innie or an outie when they’re fully clothed. While these talents are used by the participants they’re not exactly lining up to save the world with them. These are micropowers, after all; there’s no one from DC or Marvel in sight.

Until Ezekiel is approached by a police officer with an unusual request. Help him find a missing girl. Except Ezekiel has never found a person before, only objects. Scrunchies appear to be a particular forte.

I was really excited to read this book. I love anything superhero related so figured anything even hinting at micro heroes would be right up my alley. I’ve had ‘Ender’s Game’ on my TBR pile for years but this is my first Orson Scott Card read. I’m not sure if there’ll be a second.

I loved the concept and there were sections of this book I would have loved as a kid. I’m certain I would have spent considerable time figuring out what my micropower would/should be and I would have cheered Ezekiel on as he figured out what he was truly capable of.

Adult me is conflicted. I had trouble figuring out the audience for this book. The writing felt like I was reading a middle grade book but then very dark themes were introduced, which would be more suitable for older readers.

I found the reveals predictable and I didn’t like most of the characters. Ezekiel could be a semi thoughtful human being at times but when he was in “brat mode” I found him insufferable. Besides knowing which character had which micropower, the kids in GRUT were fairly interchangeable. No one had a distinct voice and practically everyone in this book was trying to out-snark each another.

While I usually enjoy banter it exhausted me here. Most of the characters spoke almost exclusively in sarcasm (I would usually love this) but there was a lot of dialogue that was mean, rude and offensive.

I wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall with the sentences that irritated me and needed to switch my brain into ‘don’t question this’ mode whenever law enforcement allowed children to be involved in their investigation. What police officer would allow a child to be involved in interviews? What police investigation includes a child wandering with the officers into unsecure locations where they expect to encounter the baddies, who probably have weapons?

Some conversations had me scratching my head:

“But that’s how scared I am, Dad. I’m just shaking. Like I’m freezing cold.”
“It’s going to be a chilly night, maybe under forty. It really is getting cold.”

Others infuriated me with their poor taste, even if they were intended to be sarcastic. A psychology professor calls Beth Ezekiel’s “companion animal” and doesn’t seem to understand why Beth can’t see the “joke”. I almost refused to keep reading because of the flippant use of ‘crazy’ and ‘insane’, like when Ezekiel “played the crazy-kid card”. And who thought this was a good sentence: “Maybe almost getting killed and killing a guy yourself was a weight loss program that could really catch on.”

Although it’s made clear that Beth has her own mind, and a very intelligent one at that, Ezekiel and her father both take it upon themselves to speak on her behalf towards the end of the book. At no time has she requested this. She even annoyed me at times. Even though I assumed this was sarcastic, when discussing who could own a lost toy cement mixer, she comes up with, “With a truck it has to be a boy.”

The trauma that Beth experiences is glossed over and there are unanswered questions, like which police officer/s were involved in the crimes.

Content warnings include mention of bullying, death of a parent, kidnapping, child pornography, murder, trafficking of children and abandonment. Oh, and if you haven’t read it already, this book spoils the ending of ‘Charlotte’s Web’.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I was expecting something much different from Orson Scott Card. I am glad I kept at this after the first pages. They were slow going but were necessary for the total story. Pay attention to the well developed conversations throughout.

4 stars because of subject matter

I am nearly always a sucker for stories about teens with powers (except horror and zombies).

I've also always liked Card's super smart kids. And all the snark is here, as oddball Ezekiel Blast (he tends to rename people, including himself) deals with the fallout of his micro power, which is to always know where lost things are.

He finally makes a friend for the first time in his life. Beth is another really smart teen, hampered as she's a little person--at first glance she looks about eight years old. But she is determined, focused, and when she decides to make friends with prickly Ezekiel, she is going to prevail.

It's she who inspires Ezekiel to stop ignoring his power (which is having emotional and even physical fallout) and help out a cop, who is trying to find a kidnapped child.

Here's where I get ambivalent. There are certain subjects I try to avoid in my fiction reading, and the subject matter lying behind this missing child pretty much tops the list. Add to that that this book is slated for teens, and my ambivalence heightens. (Yes, I know teens are watching Game of Thrones etc. But I still would not have given this book to either of my teens, until they were college age.)

That aside, the story was fast-paced, racing to a frenetic finish. I loved Ezekiel's relationships--with his dad, with Beth, with the crusty cop he ends up working with, despite initial antagonism. Except for that one aspect (and at least there is no excruciating detail) I found it an absorbing read, with some real gems of scenes, all of these being interactions between Ezekiel and the people he gets close to.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book wasn’t what I was expecting it to be. I wanted to read it because I like the other Card books I’ve read. And I like middle grade books, but maybe this one was too middle grade for me. The boy acted and talked a little too adult. Also, this book swore, which isn’t exactly mg material. So, I don’t know. I was just bored, and didn’t connect with the characters.

His power (in the book they’re called micropowers because they’re seemingly insignificant powers), is that he can find the owners of lost objects. He finds a lost item on the street, like a scrunchie, and he knows who the owner is. A police man discovers this and enlists his help in a kidnapping case, which soon becomes a murder case.

I think middle grade kids would enjoy the book. It’s an interesting murder-mystery type book.

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone for an e-arc to review.

3.5 stars!

This was a strong win for fans of Orson Scott Card, however, it isn't one that I would use to introduce this author to someone. The plot was strong and unique (i.e. not tropey), and I really enjoyed the plot device of "micro powers" instead of superpowers. For a YA book, this definitely deals with some very heavy topics (see content warnings below) and wasn't too cheesy which was refreshing. My biggest issue with it was the dialogue. While the age of the characters were supposed to be 13-15 years old, it seemed like they talked as though they were much older which has the tendency to take the reader out of the story a bit. Overall though it was very enjoyable.

CW: Child abuse and child trafficking, conversations about losing parents at a young age.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

I enjoyed the first half of this story about 14 year old Ezekial, who is bullied, lonely, and struggling to control his 'micropower' of finding and returning lost items to their owners. The relationships between Ezekial, school administrators, cops, his dad, and, finally, Beth, a quirky girl who befriends him, give the reader insight into how smart, empathetic, and misunderstood he is. When he's recruited to help find a missing girl, things get interesting and it's fun to watch him gain self-confidence as well as the respect of others while he helps solve the crime. There's a lot of clever dialogue - some funny, some poignant, some which falls a little flat. Still, for the most part, I enjoyed the back and forth quips between and insights into the characters, especially his heart-to-heart conversations with his dad. I happen to love books with a lot of dialogue and the beginning half of this story delivers in spades.

In the second half of the book, the story takes on a much darker tone while the snappy dialogue continues. At this point, the story becomes uneven. Another crime needs to be solved - a grisly one involving murder and child pornography. Ezekial is again enlisted to help solve the crime, along with a few other kids who also possess various powers. The connection between the kids seems forced though we can see it's meant to help Ezekial relate to others (and vice versa). The snappy banter between the characters becomes tiresome and doesn't fit into the seriousness of the plot. I found myself skimming through a lot of the conversations because they went on way too long and seemed too contrived. However, watching Ezekial come into his own and find his fit make this a redeeming, heartwarming story overall.

It's an enjoyable book, but I think I would've liked it more with less smartass dialogue and more depth provided through description and explanation. A word of caution: though it seems like a good book about overcoming bullying and ostracizing, the crimes are gritty and might be disturbing to some kids.

When I saw that Orson Scott Card was coming out with a new book I had to get my hands on it. So disappointed! Wasn’t the book for me. The banter reminded me of Gilmore Girls. It was quick and snarky, but I couldn’t believe that these two teens were that witty. The whole FBI detective needing the help of a smartass teenage boy and letting him do things in the case that he obviously would never do was just too much for me.

Ezekiel Bliss has an unusual 'gift': he is aware of lost objects around him, and has an urge to return them to their owners. Sounds useful, right? But who wants a stranger approaching them with a muddy scrunchie? And if someone approaches you with a valuable, lost item, how else could they have known it was yours unless they'd been the one to take it, right?

Shunned and mistrustful, Ezekiel plods through life as best he can, until the day a girl decides she's going to walk to school with him. Soon they pair are caught up in a kidnapping case, and part of a research group looking into 'micropowers' - things like Ezekiel's finding ability.

I'll start by saying this: Lost and Found has nothing in common with OSC's most famous work, Ender's Game. The sci-fi element is as low-key as the micropowers being used and investigated, with the plot being centred more around the group - Ezekiel, Beth, FBI Agent Shank, and Mr Bliss - being pulled into the search for a missing child. However, the story is probably more about relationships and loss, and navigating life when you're a bit too different.

I didn't really know what to expect, and overall I wasn't entirely blown away by the mystery or world-building - micropowers are interesting, but they aren't really explained or deeply explored beyond being the central plot device. But I was sucked into the story almost from the get-go, mainly by the dialogue-driven character interactions. I liked that the grown ups are pulled into the quest, it's not just the kids. And those kids are smart and self-deprecating, very not annoying!

Overall, a decent read - nothing earth-shattering, but held my interest despite feeling vaguely familiar, plot-wise. So while I'm not branding it a 'must-read', it won't disappoint if you do find yourself picking it up.

(rating: 2.5 / 5)

Fourteen-year-old Ezekiel Blast has a talent for finding things and knowing who they belong to. Along with this talent comes a strong need to return things to the owner. This has earned him the label of thief by people who assume he stole the items in the first place. Now ostracized by peers and authority figures alike, he is not expecting to be befriended by fellow outcast Beth, who is thirteen, but looks like she’s seven. When he’s asked to use his “micropower” to find a missing girl, Ezekiel initially refuses for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is that he finds things, not people. However, with the help of his friend and some others, Ezekiel realizes that there may be more to his micropower than he ever knew.

I was pretty excited when I was approved to read an advance copy of this book, since Orson Scott Card is a big name author. I haven’t read anything else by him (though Ender’s Game is on my TBR short list), but fortunately, I’ve read other reviews that say this isn’t like his other, especially earlier, work. Because this could have turned me off to his writing otherwise. I struggled a lot with various aspects of this book.

My biggest issue was the dialog. Not just the dialog itself, but the way it was framed. I’m a huge dialog person, both in my reading and my writing. And this book was something like 75% dialog. Because outside of the actual events that occurred surrounding the lost girl (and even during that), it felt like the characters were always either standing around or sitting around talking. And there was very little in the way of action happening during the talking, but while this worked in Lock In, it just didn’t work the same in this book. I’m not sure if I can explain why though. Maybe because the MC in Lock In is more of a mind at work, then a physical person? Maybe because it wasn’t 75% of the book?

But then, it might be because of the actual content of the dialog. There was so much snark and snappiness, it was just overwhelming. Almost like it was trying too hard to be witty and intelligent. Most of the characters talked nearly identical, even the minor ones, so it was really difficult to get a sense of who was talking. The only thing that really led me to understand that Ezekiel was particularly smart was that the detective said as much to him. But sometimes, the detective talked just like him, except without the constant need to correct people, so I guess that’s what made Ezekiel smarter? Some dialog scenes actually read as if the characters were doing nothing but one-up’ing each other in being more and more correct about what they were trying to say. And I really didn't buy either Ezekiel or Beth as early teens due to their dialog.

Ezekiel’s micropower is analyzed to death, right up until the end of the book. On the other hand, a few certain elements (that I won’t detail for the sake of spoilers) were left completely unexplained. And there were certain things that happened in this book that reminded me of my 10-year-old self writing about a girl who got her best friend adopted alongside her simply because she was plucky enough to ask. It just felt a bit too unlikely in several spots (including what would likely allowed in police work). But maybe Card has done some research and knows some things I don’t (I am definitely not an expert).

As far as the plot goes, it got off to a bit of a slow start, and then started to get interesting. And then went a surprising direction right at about the halfway point, and then became too predictable because of that. I know this is vague, but I don’t want to spoil anything.

Now, the positives. Because I did give this book some stars. Ezekiel’s dad. I really like seeing a parent portrayed in such a great light, especially a father, because let’s face it, they’re pretty beat up in fiction of various mediums these days. I also liked the way the detective treated Ezekiel, for the most part, outside of the unlikely things. I really did like the premise, and even the plot, for the first half of the book. Then it felt like a rinse and repeat for the second half.

I struggled with how many stars to give this book. While I was reading it, I was hovering around 3-3.5. But by the end, I couldn’t figure out what I was seeing that gave it even that much redeeming value. I hate writing a review like this, and I will sum up by saying that a lot of this is personal preference. But it really didn’t suit my preference. I think there are plenty of people who would enjoy the quick, snarky dialog though, considering that the writing actually reminded me of a few people I know. So for those who enjoy that type of writing, it’s probably worth a read.

I was conflicted about this one. I liked it because the cadence reminded me of his Enderverse books, but I just didn't click as well with the characters. I love the story, but I think some of the conversations were a little off. Not that I can't see real people having them, just that they seemed a bit wrong.

Fourteen year old Ezekiel Blast has a talent ('micropower') for finding lost things and being able to sense who lost them. However, returning lost things to their owners has got him labelled as a thief and by the time he got to high school he was shunned by everyone and had no friends. That is until Beth Sorenson, a very smart thirteen year old and fellow outcast as a result of her dwarfism, decides to walk with him to and from school starting an unusual friendship.

I'll be interested to see if YA readers like this better than I did. This is not Orson Scott Card at his best, although it has its moments and is very readable. I found the constant smart, snarky banter between Ezekiel and Beth and his father a little unrelenting for even a bitter, lonely teenager. In many places less would have been better and sharper. The plot also felt like it could have been developed more to extend the drama and action, particularly in the first half of the novel. I felt the inclusion of other teens with micropowers was also underdeveloped and the group could have been better utilised in the plot. The suggestion that together they could potentiate each other was never clearly demonstrated or explored. However, I think that teenage fans of Orson Scott Card will nevertheless enjoy this ya novel.

This is such a quirky and witty read !! I love Enders game and The Lost gate. I had high expectations!

I adored the friendship between the main characters. Their banter and quick witted conversation kept the novel flowing quickly and made me laugh more than once.

I also really enjoyed the idea of Ezekiel’s micro power. Seemed interesting enough. However the others powers just seemed a little ridiculous. By the end of the book I was so tired of reading the world micropower I was tempted to throw the book across the room.

Over all cute YA read with some interring plot points (murder, kidnapping.... micropowers 🙄) but over all average execution.

To be honest. I expected more from the author based on previous novels.

Disclaimer: I was given an advance reading copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity.

This was the first book I've read from Orson Scott Card. I've seen copies of Ender's game before, but I never had the courage to read it because it overwhelms me. But when I found out that this was a YA novel, I immediately grabbed the opportunity.

However, given it's YA genre, it felt like a middle grade read to me. I still like the idea plot overall, especially the part where micropowers are involved. There were moments when I just skim the pages because I somehow felt that I lost connection and I want to pull myself back in.

This might be a it's-not-the-book-it's-me kind of thing, but this won't stop me from picking up more of his works (preferably YA) in the future and compare it to my experience reading this. It may not be my cup of team, but it might be yours, so please still grab a copy of this book when it comes out.

Lost and Found
By Orson Scott Card

I give this book 4 out of 5 birds. There were so many times I thought I LOVE THIS BOOK and then a few where it felt like it dragged or felt resolved too fast. The characters were mostly likable. I did like Ezekiel and especially his dad. I found Beth slightly annoying. I don’t want to give anything away but from the middle to the end I was like WAIT WHAT? WHY IS NO ONE ADDRESSING HOW ABSURED BETH IS. I mean Orson tried, but her life that she portrayed was so out there.

This story focused on micro-powers. Ezekiels was returning things. I loved this concept. I have a micro power- I can remember where the most random item is when you lose it. When my husband is looking for his chapstick, instantly I’m like duh it’s on the sock on the floor on the left side under the bed…..

The micro powers were fun and I liked reading about them. The plot was pretty good but also predictable. I”d say read it. It was worth it and entertaining, but maybe just check it out from the library. I also don’t know exactly what I would classify this book as… Definitely YA but it blurred the lines of contemporary, mystery, sci-fi????

Lost and Found drops on September 10, 2019. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Lost and Found. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

14 year old Ezekiel Bliss (Blast) has a talent for finding lost things, but his honesty in wanting to return them to their owners has inadvertently labeled him a thief. Ezekiel has the love of his father, but he is a pariah with regards to his classmates and teachers. When a girl from his neighborhood breaks down his barriers and they start a real friendship, will Ezekiel's solitary life gain more meaning? After a policeman asks him for help with a missing child, will Ezekiel discover that his gift has limitless potential?

Lost and Found is a 3 star story, but the characters and the writing elevate it to a 4. Ezekiel is like any teenager looking to find their place in the world. The constant bullying and endless scrutiny has not broken Ezekiel; instead, his snarky comments and well practiced spiel give the young man an armor against the world. As Ezekiel finds more people who believe in him, the teenager gains a confidence and spark that is not seen earlier in the novel. This coming of age story has the science fiction aspects that I expected with this author, although it is definitely lighter than his usual fare. There were some parts of the plot that seemed to exist only to push the story along, but I really liked Lost and Found overall. Readers who like a little YA science fiction twisted with mystery may enjoy the novel for its great characterization and interesting voice.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange of my review. Thank you NetGalley!!

unfortunately, this book just fell really short for me. it was hard to get into, and i couldn't bring myself to finish the book. sorry!

This book was very average. It wasn't anything new or unique, we've seen it all before. The characters weren't especially likeable, The dialogue was occasionally ok but seemed a little childish at times.

The book was entertaining but I wouldn't drop everything to read it and I probably wouldn't recommend it in lists/posts over other similar books. It was very forgettable.

It is good but quite rough all throughout the story. The main characters were hard to get through because of this teenage angst and overly written millenial attitude towards the story. The story was good but it lacks connection for me, as a reader.

There are parts that the author should omit because I don't get the point of citing things just to emphasize some current and real situations that our society ceases to exist with. I am annoyed for some reason that the word "bra" was repeatedly used and cite when the protagonist is with a girl or describing "panties" or the female undies which is quite over for this storyline.

Orson Scott Card has a fantastic writing style that provides such a compelling and put-together story. Lost and Found had me hooked - I didn’t want to put it down and I just had to know what would happen next, all while loving every moment of this fun and unique story.

Ezekiel can find lost things. He’s not sure why he has this usual talent and it has certainly made his life hard, especially when everyone - from his classmates to the police- think he is a thief when he returns the lost items to their owners. His new friend Beth, a girl with her own reasons for staying away from other people, tries to convince him that his talent has the power to help people and encourages him to experiment with it. Then Ezekiel is approached by a police detective who thinks Ezekiel may be the key to solving a little girl’s kidnapping.

I love YA mystery novels, yet sometimes the reason for the teen to be involved in the detective work is a stretch at best or seems a little unlikely. Not so in Lost and Found. Yes, perhaps Ezekiel’s micropower stretches the boundaries of reality but the world that is built around the story makes complete sense. Ezekiel is not the only one with a micropower and the sections of the book devoted to him meeting others with similar but unique seemingly useless powers are fantastic additions to the story. As Ezekiel discovers more about the possibility of the existence of mircopowers, comes to accept that his ability to locate and rehome lost items is a micropower and starts to experiment with this ability, he earns his place as a junior detective. And it turns out he is pretty good at it.

I loved Ezekiel’s voice. Loved his sense of humour and self-depreciation. Having been labeled by the police, by teachers and peers, he expects little from those around him. Ezekiel has a colourful and unique way of viewing his world, or labelling and spinning the details he sees, and he tells the hell out of his story, with his own unique twist. It also makes him an unreliable narrator - there were a few times I had to do a double take at some of the names of streets, for example, only to realise later that Ezekiel has a thing about renaming things and people.

I loved, loved, loved Ezekiel’s relationship with his dad. I loved the relationship his dad had with Ezekiel. It is a solid relationship, only made more so by the events of the book. It is a pleasure to read such a positive father-son relationship in YA fiction.

While Lost and Found has a young tone to its storytelling, I would recommend this book to mature YA readers due to the reasons given behind the kidnapping, and while most details are spared, there is enough detail given and very serious themes raised that make this book more appropriate for older teen readers.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Another wonderful book from the mind that gave the world Ender’s Game and so many others. An absolute must for Sci-fi fans