Once Was Lost
Original hardcover and paperback cover
Also re-published briefly as What We Lost in paperback only. Both are still out there in the world; content of the book is the same in each!
When thirteen-year-old Jody goes missing, the national spotlight turns to Samara Taylor’s small town of Pineview. With few clues for investigators to follow, everyone is a suspect, including Jody’s older brother, Nick. But even as the town rallies in solidarity, Sam feels more alone than ever. Her mother is drifting farther and farther away while her father grows increasingly preoccupied as he steps in to help Jody’s family in the wake of the disappearance. During the tense, uncomfortable days that follow, Sam draws closer to Nick as the local tragedy intersects with her personal one.
A powerful novel about community, family, and faith.
Honors
Utah Book Award Winner
INSPY Award Winner
A Kirkus Best Book
Select Quotes
★ “Beyond delivering a gripping story, Zarr has a knack for exposing human weakness in the ordinary." – Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ ” This rare combination of in-depth character study and gripping mystery relies on a strong sense of emotional truth to do justice to some tough subject matter without graphic or violent scenes. Riveting.” – Kirkus, starred review
★ “Zarr sets a hard task for herself here: interweaving a number of strong story strands and giving them equal weight, even as she tightens the whole with questions about faith and God. ... Comes together as an impressive whole.” – Booklist, starred review