Island of Lost Girls
by Jennifer McMahon
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While parked at a gas station, Rhonda sees something so incongruously surreal that at first she hardly recognizes it as a crime in progress. She watches, unmoving, as someone dressed in a rabbit costume kidnaps a young girl. Devastated over having done nothing, Rhonda joins the investigation. But the closer she comes to identifying the abductor, the nearer she gets to the troubling truth about another missing child: her best friend, Lizzy, who vanished years before. From the author of the show more acclaimed Promise Not to Tell comes a chilling and mesmerizing tale of shattered innocence, guilt, and ultimate redemption. show lessTags
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On the surface, this book is about an abduction and the search for a missing girl. The sole witness to the kidnapping is Rhonda, and as she tries to help find the kidnapper (who was dressed in a bunny suit at the time), she recalls a summer of her childhood a few years before her best friend also went missing. This summer was a turning point in her childhood much more than she knew at the time.
Both stories, past and present, are tragic enough. But I think neither is really the point of the book. To me, the point of the book was how very little in Rhonda's life is as she thinks it is. She begins to learn this during that one summer, but the full import of what was going on around her doesn't become clear until the hunt for the child she show more saw kidnapped is almost over.
And it's not that Rhonda's purposely deceiving herself, either in the past or in the present. But there are definitely things going on around her that she's not aware, and secrets that are being kept from her. Told in the third-person, but entirely from Rhonda's perspective, McMahon reveals these secrets in a slow but satisfying way. show less
Both stories, past and present, are tragic enough. But I think neither is really the point of the book. To me, the point of the book was how very little in Rhonda's life is as she thinks it is. She begins to learn this during that one summer, but the full import of what was going on around her doesn't become clear until the hunt for the child she show more saw kidnapped is almost over.
And it's not that Rhonda's purposely deceiving herself, either in the past or in the present. But there are definitely things going on around her that she's not aware, and secrets that are being kept from her. Told in the third-person, but entirely from Rhonda's perspective, McMahon reveals these secrets in a slow but satisfying way. show less
When a giant rabbit abducts six-year-old Ernestine Florucci from her mother’s car at the gas station, Rhonda Farr is so astonished she doesn’t even realize she’s seeing a crime being committed. But little Ernestine, who walked away with the rabbit and unhesitatingly climbed into his gold Volkswagen, has vanished.
Thus begins a story that alternates between the present day and 1993 when Rhonda was thirteen and the children spent their summers putting on plays. In 1993, the year that Peter and Lizzy’s father disappeared, the play was “Peter Pan” and Rhonda portrayed Wendy Darling while Lizzy was Captain Hook and Peter, of course, was Peter Pan.
The townspeople rally to search for Ernie but days pass without a shred of evidence. show more Will they find the young girl? Will they unmask Peter Rabbit and reveal the kidnapper’s identity? Or are both the rabbit and the girl gone forever?
Beautiful writing fills the pages of this tale. However, most of the characters peopling this novel are truly unlikeable, making it difficult for the reader to care about what happens to any of them. Rhonda is particularly onerous, likely to evoke a plethora of frustrated sighs of annoyance from readers.
The reveal involving the giant rabbit is an unexpected surprise and, although hints of mystery abound throughout the narrative, astute readers will unravel the mostly-predictable happenings without too much difficulty. However, it is the unfolding story of childhood, lost both physically and emotionally, and Rhonda’s examination of her own childhood that accounts for the book’s essential message of the need to deal with the things of the past in order to move forward. show less
Thus begins a story that alternates between the present day and 1993 when Rhonda was thirteen and the children spent their summers putting on plays. In 1993, the year that Peter and Lizzy’s father disappeared, the play was “Peter Pan” and Rhonda portrayed Wendy Darling while Lizzy was Captain Hook and Peter, of course, was Peter Pan.
The townspeople rally to search for Ernie but days pass without a shred of evidence. show more Will they find the young girl? Will they unmask Peter Rabbit and reveal the kidnapper’s identity? Or are both the rabbit and the girl gone forever?
Beautiful writing fills the pages of this tale. However, most of the characters peopling this novel are truly unlikeable, making it difficult for the reader to care about what happens to any of them. Rhonda is particularly onerous, likely to evoke a plethora of frustrated sighs of annoyance from readers.
The reveal involving the giant rabbit is an unexpected surprise and, although hints of mystery abound throughout the narrative, astute readers will unravel the mostly-predictable happenings without too much difficulty. However, it is the unfolding story of childhood, lost both physically and emotionally, and Rhonda’s examination of her own childhood that accounts for the book’s essential message of the need to deal with the things of the past in order to move forward. show less
This book starts out with the scary scene of a child being kidnapped in plain sight by a six-foot tall rabbit - just what you'd expect from the title, right? However, as the story unfolds, we learn this is more a tale of child molestation, murder, and insanity. Filled with quirky characters with questionable motives, the story is told through flashbacks by Rhonda, one of the witnesses, who ties the kidnapping into events from her childhood. Although I thought this book was a little dark, I still found it entertaining with realistic plot twists.
When Rhonda sees a little girl being abducted by someone in a rabbit suit while at a gas station, it takes a few minutes for her to realize what she is seeing. Then the guilt sets in and she vows to help in anyway that will enable the little girl, Ernestine, to be brought home safely. This event stirs memories of her childhood best friend who disappeared one day.
While certainly a page turner, I found Island of Lost Girls adhered to the predictable thriller formula and the needy, whiny main character didn't add to my enjoyment of the book. The story alternates between 2006 and the abduction of Ernestine and in alternate chapters we are given flashbacks to 1993, the year Lizzy disappeared.
Overall this was a quick and easy read and while I show more used to gorge on books like this, these days I find my taste is for something a little more subtle and intricate. It suspect this will be a book that I forget about in a month or two. show less
While certainly a page turner, I found Island of Lost Girls adhered to the predictable thriller formula and the needy, whiny main character didn't add to my enjoyment of the book. The story alternates between 2006 and the abduction of Ernestine and in alternate chapters we are given flashbacks to 1993, the year Lizzy disappeared.
Overall this was a quick and easy read and while I show more used to gorge on books like this, these days I find my taste is for something a little more subtle and intricate. It suspect this will be a book that I forget about in a month or two. show less
Was totally on board the this book rocks train. I think the thing that got me is I figured things out to fast. That in itself is not a bad thing but when it happens I would rather it happen later in the book. One of my favorite authors though her books always seem to grab me in the guts. This one is no exception. Would definitely recommend.
Rhonda Farr was at a gas station when she sees someone in a rabbit suit get out of a car and go over to a car with a young girl, take her by the hand and lead her to his car and take off. Rhonda can’t believe what she has just seen. Thinking back, Rhonda remembers a similar rabbit costume from long ago. Her best friend, Lizzie’s father dressed up as the Easter bunny. Lizzie’s father, Daniel disappeared almost three years after that and Lizzie disappeared several years later. The last time Rhonda heard from Lizzie was a number of years ago, when she was in high school. Lizzie sent a postcard claiming to be with Daniel. Rhonda feeling guilty, turns “detective” to find out who took the little girl from the car.
Rhonda Farr is 23 and on her way to a job interview. Rhonda is sitting in her car outside Pat's Mini Mart in Pike's Crossing, waiting to fill her car up with gas. Trudy Florucci pulls up and runs inside the Mini Mart, leaving the motor running and Ernie, her little girl in the car. A gold-colored VW pulls into Pat's Mini Mart, driven by a large white rabbit. Before Rhonda can get over her shock at seeing a rabbit driving the VW, Ernie has jumped out of her mother's car and rode off with the rabbit. Rhonda is guilt ridden because the child has disappeared, and she took no action whatsoever to try and stop the abduction.
Pat, the owner of Pat's Mini Mart, has set up a "Find Ernie Headquarters." Rhonda is one of the volunteers. The show more disappearance of Ernie has caused Rhonda to take a trip back to her childhood and memories of Peter, Lizzy and Tock, her childhood friends. The group built a stage and produced Peter Pan. Rhonda's family and the families of her friends gathered for social activities. Thinking of these times reminds Rhonda of many mysteries in the past. The disappearance of Peter's father, as well as that of his sister Lizzy, is a memory Rhonda dwells on.
Island of Lost Girls is a book full of suspense and heartbreak. It is also a peek into the wonderful imagination of children and their private little world. The ending is shocking, sad and happy. show less
Pat, the owner of Pat's Mini Mart, has set up a "Find Ernie Headquarters." Rhonda is one of the volunteers. The show more disappearance of Ernie has caused Rhonda to take a trip back to her childhood and memories of Peter, Lizzy and Tock, her childhood friends. The group built a stage and produced Peter Pan. Rhonda's family and the families of her friends gathered for social activities. Thinking of these times reminds Rhonda of many mysteries in the past. The disappearance of Peter's father, as well as that of his sister Lizzy, is a memory Rhonda dwells on.
Island of Lost Girls is a book full of suspense and heartbreak. It is also a peek into the wonderful imagination of children and their private little world. The ending is shocking, sad and happy. show less
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Author Information
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Jennifer McMahon was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1968. She received a BA from Goddard College in 1991 and studied poetry for a year in the MFA in Writing Program at Vermont College. Before becoming full-time writer in 2000, she worked as a house painter, farm worker, homeless shelter staff member, and counselor for adults and kids with mental show more illness. Her first novel, Promise Not to Tell, was published in 2007. Her other works include Island of Lost Girls, Dismantled, and My Tiki Girl. In 2014, her title The Winter People made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- Island of Lost Girls
- Original title
- Island of Lost Girls
- Original publication date
- 2008-04
- People/Characters
- Rhonda "Ronnie" Farr; Ernestine "Ernie" Florucci; Peter Shale; Sergeant Joe Crowley; Trudy Florucci; Laura Lee Clark (show all 15); Greta "Tock" Clark; Lizzy Shale; Warren; Suzy; Daniel Shale; Aggie Shale; Clem Farr; Justine Farr; Pat Hebert
- Important places
- Pike's Crossing, Vermont, USA
- Dedication
- For Drea
- First words
- "Dive, dive, dive!" shouted Suzy as she clutched the old Chevy's cracked red-and-white steering wheel, jerking it back and forth in her hands, yanking hard on the turn signal lever to bring the ship down. (Prologue, Ju... (show all)ne 24, 2006)
Rhonda Farr had two Peters in her life: the Peter she loved but could not have, and now the white rabbit, which she, not unlike Alice in Wonderland, seemed destined to chase down the hole. (June 5, 2006 [Chapter 1]) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Surface," Suzy ordered. "We're home."
- Blurbers
- Donohue, Keith
- Original language
- English US
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- 33,025
- Reviews
- 36
- Rating
- (3.39)
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- Dutch, English, French, German
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- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 14
- ASINs
- 4
