The Girl in the White Van by April Henry is a suspenseful, hard to put down page turner. The author did a great job of portraying young women as strong and resourceful.

4.5 stars - I loved it! The Girl in the White Van is a fast paced thriller I finished in two sittings. The protagonists were typical teens student readers can relate to and the setting could be "anywhere." Kung Fu and Bruce Lee lessons were prominently featured throughout the novel - I would share this book with students interested in martial arts and those who like thriller/mysteries (like me). It ended just a little too quickly for me, maybe another chapter or couple pages with details about how all the relationships begin to play out. SO good! Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #TheGirlintheWhiteVan by #AprilHenry. I can't wait to get a paper copy for my classroom!

The Girl in the White Van is a brand new YA mystery thriller from author April Henry. Henry is no stranger to the genre with over twenty published novels and delivers a fast paced and creepy narrative with The Girl in the White Van. As a teen, I lived in the mystery/thriller section of my local library, bookstore, and video store. My tastes have certainly changed over the years, but the key teachings I took from these types of stories are still ingrained in me today. There are a few formulas that these types of stories follow and I was expecting this book to do the same thing. This is the first April Henry book I have read, but this book seemed to follow its own rules. Perhaps the YA thriller journey is different, compared with more adult thrillers, but this book was certainly different to what I was expecting, both good and bad.

The Girl in the White Van takes the classic stalker with a white van stereotype and develops a plot that made my skin crawl. Savannah is a teenage girl who has a complicated relationship with her mother, who never stays in the same place or with the same man for very long. After a fight with Tim, the latest boyfriend, Savannah heads to her usual Kung Fu class. After class she means to head home, however, she is stopped by an unknown attacker who grabs her from behind. After a brief struggle and a few injuries, she is taken and wakes up somewhere unknown. However, Savannah isn't alone. There is another girl with her and so begins their struggle to escape. The other girl, Jenny, is pretty beat up and her injuries are described in gruesome detail. The reader soon learns that her injuries were acquired when Jenny tried to escape when she was first taken. Despite her fear, Savannah quickly insists that they try and escape.

The story is told from multiple POVs. In fact, almost every character in this book has at least one chapter to shine. This is an interesting choice, but Henry does a good job keeping each voice individual and separate. It shares emotions and provides a background about Savannah, Jenny, their parents, and other kids from school. It also teaches the reader more about the villain, Sir, and about the fact he has been stalking girls for a long time. Savannah’s chapters are prefaced with Bruce Lee quotes which the reader learns early on is a sort of idol for her. These quotes give a cryptic hint of the mood of each chapter and where a really lovely addition.

“If there is always light, you don't experience light anymore. You have to have the rhythm of light and darkness.”

The use of multiple POVs also helps propel the story and creates a really fast paced read. There are both positives and negatives for this book in that sense. The positive was I finished this book in under two hours! The negative is I felt that the story was rushed and led to a lack of tension and suspense throughout. It felt like there was simply no time for the suspense to build before the next character started talking.

Prior to being kidnapped, Savannah really struggles to form a connection with other characters. She is used to moving frequently and talks about how there is little point making friends because the inevitable move always results in losing contact. It was wonderful to see the relationship between Savannah and Jenny bloom in their short captivity together. Their characters really complimented each other and where one was weak the other was there to support and assist both physically and emotionally. So many YA books pit young girls against each other and it was refreshing to see these girls work together through many adversities.

This book plays out like an episode of Criminal Minds and the reader is given a psychoanalysis of the kidnapper which felt very familiar. Sir, as he wants to be called, is a loner with severe emotional issues surrounding both his parents after their deaths which has led him to believe he is entitled to a woman to control and treat how he deems fit. I was waiting for a twist within the story and Henry hints throughout at the possible suspects of who Sir may be from the men in Savannah’s life. Unfortunately, that twist never came and Sir is a stranger who preyed and stalked young girls and women until he found the perfect one. This was a bit disappointing (I love a good plot twist, particularly in mysteries and thrillers) but the fact Sir is a complete stranger certainly upped the creep factor by at least 1000.

Henry packs this book with a lot of lessons for young girls and women throughout this book and I am not sure if they were intentional or not. She comments on how each girl was taken by a stranger that had watched their movements over several days/weeks. As a woman with law enforcement in her family, changing up my routine where possible has always been on my radar. There are self defense lessons scattered throughout and Savannah actually teaches certain aspects to Jenny before their escape. I thought the inclusion of these tips was appropriate and rounded this book out perfectly.

The Girl In The White Van is a solid YA thriller that would be most enjoyed by the younger end of the YA reader spectrum. It has a straight forward plot, relatable characters while still delivering the expected creep.

Savannah is not looking forward to returning home after kung fu class. She fought with her mother’s boyfriend and she knows she will need to grovel to get in his good graces. Her thoughts quickly change gears when she is attacked outside of her kung fu class and is kidnapped by a man driving a white van. When she finally wakes up from her head injury, she finds that she is not alone. Jenny was kidnapped 10 months earlier and has been tasked with getting Savannah trained properly. But this captor does not know what he has grabbed. Savannah may only be an orange belt, but she has the heart of Bruce Lee and plans to get both of them out alive … if she can.

The Girl in the White Van is a stand-alone young adult mystery that reads short, yet not so sweet. Henry has crafted a story that gets quickly into the turmoil and brings readers into the mystery without wasting a lot of pages. Although I felt like the story could have used more details, the fact that it was barely over 200 pages means that readers can easily sit down and read it in one sitting. Once again, Henry has written a young adult thriller that will be easily consumed by boys and girls alike.

April Henry has made a name for herself by writing short, creepy thrillers featuring strong and sarcastic, but still vulnerable young women who wind up in very dangerous situations and have to rescue themselves. Readers love them and I’m one of those readers. This new book does not disappoint in any way.

Savannah Taylor has just moved to the Portland area with her mom and they have shacked up with mom’s new boyfriend, who is not the hero in shining armor that mom hoped he would be. Savannah is counting the days until she’s 18 and can start fending for herself. In the meantime, she’s keeping a low profile but has developed an absolute love for kung fu and Bruce Lee.

Her low profile hasn’t kept her from being noticed by a predator in his white van. He takes her one day while she’s walking home from the gym. Initially everyone thinks that she’s run away after having an argument with her mom’s boyfriend. It’s only when people start digging further that they realize she’s been abducted.

In true April Henry style, we are also following her story. We discover that she’s not the first girl taken by this man. April Henry gives the reader lots of points of view, including the abductor, which always makes my skin crawl, but it certainly makes the story really fascinating. The best parts, however, are when the resourceful main character starts to try to find ways to MacGuyver their way out of the situation. This particular book was made even more interesting by the apt Bruc Lee quotes at the front of each chapter.

Savannah is dealing with yet another new boyfriend- but not her own- her mother's. And this one isn't better than any of the others. In fact, he has some serious drawbacks, including the bruises on her mother's wrist. When Savannah argues with him and leaves for her kung fu class in spite of his attempt to ground her, she has no idea what will be lurking in the shadows after class.

After being kidnapped by "Sir", Savannah is determined to find her way back home. Trapped in an old RV and with the meanest dog around guarding the door, she will have to get creative if she's going to survive.

The Girl in the White Van is everything you expect from April Henry. Which is both awesome and a smidge disappointing. I love that Henry incorporates martial arts into this story. I know she herself is a martial artist and it shows in the way she writes the kung fu class and in the defense techniques the girls use. I also really enjoyed the Bruce Lee quotes and how Savannah took inspiration from his biography. The book was great on its own, my only disappointment is that April Henry's work seems to have become formulaic. I still love her though and will be recommending this book to my middle school students!

The Girl in the White Van by April Henry—Calling all April Henry fans! Here is her newest thriller and in my opinion...this is the best yet! Savannah and her mom’s greaseball boyfriend don’t get along. After a huge fight, Savannah suddenly disappears and her mom’s boyfriend is the number one suspect. Told from several different point of views, we see Savannah being taken and held captive by a man she is supposed to call“Sir”, but she hasn’t seen his face. Even worse, there’s another girl, a girl who has been missing for months. Their escape seems impossible, but Savannah is a fighter. She is determined to get out of this alive, but Sir has other plans. April Henry fans will not be disappointed. Comes out July28, 2020 #TheGirlintheWhiteVan #AprilHenry #NetGalley

April Henry has done it again! The Girl in the White Van is a must read. Just when you think you have it all figured out, she throws another curve ball that has you guessing again. Her shout out to her favorite sport does not go unnoticed. She is masterful at YA and I can't wait to share this one with the students in my classroom!

This is one of those books where reading before bed, then you struggle with sleep because you just keep wondering what is going to happen. Inevitably, you’re gonna get up at 2:00 a.m. and finish because you won't be able to stand waiting anymore.

This novel is told from several POV. It is disturbing, so disturbing. But it is just so good the reader is rewarded by the conclusion.

I would recommend this book to fans of shows like Criminal Minds.

Savannah bites her tongue and has self control beyond her years, as she deals with her mom’s boyfriend, who had me fuming. Perhaps her calm comes from her Kung Fu studies or her Bruce Lee readings offering deep thought. Kung fu practice ends and she spends time with the gorgeous senior, Daniel, who has caught her eye, but she cannot get close to anyone, so she must forget that he seems to like her and she likes him. Savannah ventures home after practice, but while deep in thought someone grabs her! Will her Kung Fu practice and Bruce Lee advice aid her against this attack?

April Henry has done it again! This book pulls you in, raises your heart rate, finds you determined for Savannah and Jenny, and takes you into captivity but also sweet freedom. Together-Savannah and Jenny are kick butt strong young ladies. Defeat is not in their vocabulary! Highly recommend!! Preordering today!

The Girl In The White Van was a quick read and was action-packed. I liked how the chapters switched from the different characters' points of view. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and I stay up way past my bedtime to see what happened. Another great story by April Henry.

Savannah is used to moving around, following her mother's trail of bad boyfriends. But after living in one place for 7 months, she's finally starting to feel a little at home. She still isn't really comfortable making friends, but she makes money babysitting and has found a home in a local kung fu studio. When she is kidnapped in the parking lot after practice one night, Savannah knows she must fight for her life. What she doesn't know is that she'll need to fight for someone else's life too.

April Henry doesn't disappoint in yet another missing girl thriller. Students will love the fast-paced mystery, and the varying perspectives and short chapters make this a sure hit for reluctant readers.

I have been really struggling with finding a good YA book, but this book did it for me. This book kept my interest and I couldn't put it down.

April Henry's latest book, The Girl in the White Van, keeps up with her usual suspense. Savannah is a nomad, but not by choice. Every time her mom meets another guy online, it means another city and another school for Savannah. Her personal rule is to not make plans or friends. Savannah actually likes Portland though, and the cute guy in Kung Fu class doesn't hurt. But one night, after a fight with her mom's boyfriend, Savannah's luck in Portland runs out. Told from multiple perspectives, this story keeps you on your toes to the very last page!

When I met April Henry several years ago, she told a story about how she just learned Kung Fu and how it would feel to have your hands duct taped together. While reading this, I was excited that our conversation turned into this book! April Henry doesn't half-do her research. She goes all in, and that's why her stories always have my heart racing and pages turning!

#TheGirlintheWhiteVan #NetGalley

Another thriller from April Henry. This one focuses on a girl named Savannah, who is kidnapped after her kung fu class and taken away in a white van. How will she get away? And who is this man who wants her to call him "Sir"? We also meet Jenny, another girl who was kidnapped by Sir some ten months ago. A book that will keep you on the edge of your seat until you finish. Just as good as Henry's other books.

Another great April Henry novel, this one deals with domestic violence, divorce, and co-dependence, among other topics. When Savannah is kidnapped coming home from martial arts class, the police think at first she is a run away. Savannah is a student of Bruce Lee quotes, which she relies on while being held captive. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader.

This was an okay book, mostly suited to an early Young Adult readership.
Teens will love the fast pace and multiple viewpoints. The predictable narrative will suit a younger audience.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A very suspenseful story that I am sure will appeal to our teens. Our patrons will enjoy the tense plot and how the characters try to get out of their situation. I appreciated the switching points of view as it added to the story.

Another excellent thriller from April Henry. I found the background on Bruce Lee particularly interesting and a good hook for both female and male readers. The self-defense aspects of the story were especially enlightening for young readers who should understand how important this skill is.

Savannah and Jenny must work together in order to survive their their capture in this new book by April Henry. This was a quick read with many different points of view. The best part of the story was the strong supportive relationship the girls quickly form as they fight to survive. I wanted a bit more character development but overall, and maybe a few less points of view. I have read many of Henry's books and this was a good quick read. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion. 3.5 stars but will round up.