This seemed like a perfect read for me, but I just wasn't able to get into it. It doesn't seem like the type to appeal to my patrons, so I'll probably pass.

Melanie Conklin’s latest MG book made my heart happy! Maddy has been reeling over the loss of her dad for several years and anxiety has become a permanent fixture in her life, so much so that local law enforcement has talked to her about “crying wolf” a few too many times. Now in sixth grade, she has a step dad she is not willing to accept, a best friend who may be changing a bit too much for comfort and the new kid at school may be the recently abducted boy from the news. The intensity of Mandy’s feelings leaps off the page and her need to allow Stan to be a loving addition to her life is obvious to everyone but her. The twists surrounding Eric who might be Billy will be eye-opening to many readers. Conklin effectively tackles loss, step parenting, domestic abuse, and anxiety effectively all in one marvelous book appropriate for readers in grades 4 and up and does not include profanity, sexual content, or unnecessary violence. Diversity in race and economic strata is present in the main characters. Highly recommended.

Top middle grade books of 2020! This book tackles the grief of a kid whose father died unexpectedly. Maddy is filled with anxiety and is always afraid something bad will happen to her and those she loves. She calls the police at any suspicion and is told one day she will "cry wolf" and no one will believe her. But she can't help it - she feels the need to save everyone. When a new kid moves to town, Maddy is sure he is someone else and she becomes obsessed with figuring it out. She's also battling the need to express her concerns but doesn't want people to think she is spiraling out of control. Then her suspicions begin to grow and she finds out a secret - a secret that may lead her to solving an unsuspecting mystery. Middle grade readers will LOVE this book!

Ever since Maddy's father died while saving her life at the ocean, she has been a bit of an alarmist. She has a fire extinguisher and a rope ladder in case of a fire. She and her mom have regular safety checks and trim the shrubs so burglars can't use them to hide. Because she called 911 so often, she and the sheriff were on a first name basis. The tv would be turned off during crime reports, but she did find out about Billy Holcomb, who disappeared, and then six months later a new boy, Eric arrives . To deliver “Welcome to the Neighborhood” pies, Maddy navigates the booby traps Eric has set around his trailer where he and his mom live. Except for his hair color, wight and height, his facial features resemble Bobby. Without proof, Maddy knows she can't call 911, so enlists her best friend to help her uncover the truth about Eric's possible identity. Other plot points involve Maddy's grief, which she expresses by texting her Dad, knowing full well there will be no response, and Maddy's adjustment to her new stepdad, Stan, who always seems to be writing in a small red notebook, and the ever present bullies. Excellent in it's treatment of some very real social issues.

Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin is a middle grade book about what makes a family and how to form a new one. Maddy Gaines is the main character who sees the world through as in danger mode. Everything can be a danger and after calling in so many things as danger, she has had to reassess what is danger. Part of the danger is the fact that Maddy’s father died suddenly in an accident when she was young. Maddy still struggles with her dad’s death, but is also working on moving forward with her mom and Stan (mom’s new husband). On top of that, she is pretty sure she knows a secret and is worried about a missing boy. Her best friend seems to be changing and she isn’t sure what to do about any of it.

This book is a great read that really shows how anxiety can manifest itself into someone’s life. Maddy’s character typifies middle grades where everyone is growing and changing and no one seems to be clear on anything. Their confusion is added to when there is a secret and a dangerous person around. Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin is a good read.

Maddie lost her father in a tragic accident. Now, every time Maddie feels like something is not right, she calls the police. After being scolded for the last time, the police say she needs to stop calling. When a new boy arrives at the school, Maddie thinks that he is the boy who has been missing for six months but something is different about him. Along with that, her mother has remarried. Stan is doing what he can to connect to Maddie but Maddie just keeps her distance. As she deals with Stan, who works hard to get to know Maddie, she is finding out that you can love more than once and things will be okay.. This books is about friends, family, loss, grieving, and finding their way through life. I really enjoyed this book and I believe many students in our school will like it also.

Maddy has anxiety. Yes, plenty of people do, but it makes her see danger and crimes where others don't. Conklin has crafted a fine novel for tweens and adults that relies on excellent character development. You'll root for Maddy as she navigates loss and change. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maddy is still getting over the death of her father (for which she blames herself), when her mom remarries. As she works to find a way to fit him into her life, she deals with changing friendships and tries to discover if the boy down the street is really a kidnapped boy she saw on the news.

The plot moves along at a good pace. The characters are engaging. It is written at a level that can be understood and enjoyed by tweens and older.

My one complaint is that Maddy has this seemingly unwarranted bias against Kelsey, that is only explained after her and Eric's full story comes to light. It seems to make no sense and could come off as confusing for young readers.

Such a great book about a changing family, new and old friendships, secrets, and grief. I think kids will love this book, I know I did!

Eleven-year-old Maddy has been quite anxious since the accidental death of her father. To cope and to ease her anxieties she’s super vigilant and always aware of potential things that could go wrong. She often calls the police to let them know what she’s observed without evidence and because of this she is often accused of being a “boy crying wolf.” I really liked the progression of her relationship with her new stepfather throughout the story. There was great character development and the characters were relatable. The plot was well done with elements of drama and suspense. The tough topics of death and abuse were dealt with sensitivity and in a manner that was appropriate for the intended audience while providing plenty of opportunity for discussion as well. I would recommend this book and plan on purchasing a copy for my library.

Melanie Conklin delivers another solid contribution to the world of children's literature. "Every Missing Piece" is the story of Maddy Gaines and the slightly obsessive behaviors she has acquired since her father's accidental drowning. Maddy has become hyper-sensitive to safety and is constantly on the watch for things that may be unsafe in her neighborhood. Her reports to the Sheriff's department, though, have gone unsubstantiated and the Sheriff pays a visit to her home to warn her about becoming the "boy who cried wolf." Of course, as Maddy grapples with missing her father, and learning to accept her new stepfather, the prospect of adding to the family, and fearing that her best friend is moving to her "new self" (i.e., teenager) before she is ready, a new student catches Maddy's eye making her think he could be a missing kid. Remembering the sting of being scolded by the Sheriff, Maddy hesitates to alert the law enforcement department even though more and more events add up to make solidify Maddy's assumption.

Throughout the story, Maddy learns that right and wrong sometimes get mixed up, that even though her best friend is ready to be a little older, it doesn't mean she is ready to lose Maddy's friendship, and that she can still love and miss her dad while learning to love Stan and allowing him to be father figure in her life.

Once again, Conklin delivers another stellar contribution to children's literature. The characters are relatable and story line is solid. I loved how she introduced North Carolina and gave enough cultural details to show me a part of the US I have never visited which only added to the story as a whole. I also appreciate how Conklin shows that some parents make bad choices, but it doesn't make them bad. She shows that people can change and turn their lives around, and even through these bad choices, they have never stopped loving their children. There is a lot to this story that will touch a great number of kids. I look for "Every Missing Piece" to land a spot on many state reading award lists.

Every Missing Piece really hit home for me and I know it will be a book my students will see themselves in too. The main character, Maddy, struggles with anxiety and moving forward with her life after losing her dad in a drowning accident at the beach. As Maddy tries to navigate daily life with her new stepdad, friendships, and conflicts, a mystery student emerges at the school. Maddy befriends the new boy while trying to uncover the secrets of his past. Each clue and interaction helps her to add another piece to the puzzle and also an opportunity to grow beyond her worries. It is a great story for readers to see that it is ok to move forward while keeping the one's we have lost in our heart.

I thought that this was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. Knowing that something happened to her, but not knowing what it was, I didn't like it. I also was upset that her friend didn't notice how Diesel treated her. I thought that it didn't make sense with the story. There should have been more explaining so that we as readers could make out just a little bit more of the reasoning.

It has been three years since 11 year old Madison Gaines' dad died while saving her life. Her mom has remarried. Maddie has a deep need to feel safe, doing weekly safety checks with her mom. When she thinks the new boy at school looks a lot like a missing boy, she knows she she has to do something and to tread carefully. She has too much of a reputation with the local police who thinks she cries wolf. Maddie enlists the help of her best friend Cress, as well as the school librarian. Add to this: her mom wants her to spend more time with her stepdad; Cress seems to be growing up faster than Maddie, neighbor boy Diesel used to be her friend, but now seems more like an enemy.

This multilayered story of friendship, family, and abuse is one I will gladly add to my middle school library and highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I couldn't put the book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

5 big stars for this absolutely beautiful novel by Melanie Conklin. I've been anxious awaiting a new book from her since loving her MG debut, Counting Thyme, and this book was well worth the wait.

Maddy is struggling with the death of her dad a few years ago, and how scary the world feels you're not prepared for a worst case scenario. She vigilantly pays attention to the world around her, and often worries about potential problems, much to the dismay of her mom and the local police (whom she contacts when she's notices something she think could be problematic. When a new boy arrives in town with a mysterious past, she's convinced he's the boy who went missing six months ago. How can she prove to everyone she's right? At the same time, her relationship with her best friend is changing, and her new stepdad, Stan, is trying to connect with her but she's not sure she's ready to open her heart up to him.

I really love the sensitive way that Maddy's anxiety is explored, and the support that she receives from her mom and stepdad. One of my favorite aspects of this story is the character development, and how the relationships between Maddy and Stan, and Maddy and her mom, change over the course of the book. There is so much heart in these characters, and though all are hurting in their own ways, it's wonderful to watch as they grow and find ways to connect to each other. As the story develops and we learn more about Eric, the boy with the mysterious past, the story addresses some tough topics and provides wonderful discussion material. There is a lot of suspense that I was not expecting, and the story was incredibly well-crafted.

I highly recommend you add this book to your TBR piles, and I will definitely be adding it to my library's collection in May.

Loved getting to know Maddy! Such a wonderful character who really made me feel for her— she has a deceased father, a stepfather she’s trying to love, a best friend who is branching out, a neighbor who doesn’t appear as kind as he could be, and a mystery she’s determined to solve. Highly recommend!

I absolutely loved this book. There was great character development and a great plot. There was the drama of a deceased father, a new stepdad, changing friends, and a missing kid. This book was funny, heartfelt, and hopeful. I would hand this to children looking for a character-driven story that has some drama and a light mystery.

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley for an honest review. I love that this book had a great strong young girl as the lead character. This story reminded me a lot of the Nancy Drew mystery type books that I read as a kid and I know several kids that I will give this title to when it is published in the spring of 2020

Kids are resilient, right? Maddy proves that adults sometimes dismiss their traumas or the causes of over-the-top behavior and actions. Melanie Conklin’s EVERY MISSING PIECE is a heartwarming tale that speaks to loss, grief, family bonds and abuse while weaving a fascinating mystery for young adult readers.

Maddy may have been chasing the wind by calling the police for perceived crimes, but when she sees a boy she cannot help but believe is a long missing child, she digs down deep and won’t let having cried wolf once too often stop her from uncovering what her gut is telling her.

A wonderfully told tale that addresses so many issues with a delicate, yet enlightening way as one girl gets through the maze of her own past traumas to help another.

This is an amazingly well-told tale, as entertaining as it is touching.

I was invited to receive a complimentary ARC edition from the Disney Book Group! This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book for Middle-Grade students is part mystery, part family drama, and deals with some heavy topics such as severe anxiety, kidnapping, addiction, violence, and death. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it - though I do think some sort of "trigger warning" would be helpful before reading, and I think providing the reader with opportunities to discuss their feelings while reading would be beneficial. 3.5 stars.