THE EMPTY PLACE

A girl whose father disappeared in the woods for a year needs to know where he went—and why.

Henrietta Lightfoot’s father went missing while caving in a forest; he was creating content for his popular YouTube channel, “Discovery Joe.” She isn’t bold or outgoing like her dad, though—she loves the companionable silence she shares with her best friend, Ibtihaj, who’s also the only person to call her by the name she prefers, Henry. At her 12th birthday party, exactly a year after his disappearance, Henry’s dad appears, in terrible physical condition and saying things that make no sense. In the hospital, he directs Henry to look in his bag, where she finds his special gift for her: an exquisite necklace, wrapped in a map of Quinvandel, the forest where he vanished. Armed with the map, Henry sets off to retrace her dad’s steps. She ends up in a land of the lost, where mysterious things happen. While some plot points feel underdeveloped, Cole’s latest is infused with beautiful language that accentuates the somber tone. Introspective readers who are seeking a weighty, serious adventure of self-discovery will appreciate this work, in which individuals strive to overcome challenges as they seek their truths. Henry is white, and there’s racial and ethnic diversity among the supporting cast.

A solemn and compelling read.