Applebaum, Kirsty. Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good, The. Nosy Crow, 05/2026. 288pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 979-8-88777-282-0. GRADES 4–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
When Fran is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle, she is pleased to find that her bossy cousin Imogen is absent, but she swiftly grows concerned when no one will acknowledge that Imogen ever existed, and everyone warns Fran to stay away from a mysterious overgrown garden. Readers will zip through this intriguing tale, where present action is interspersed with pages of a forgotten diary. Though the narrative cleverly subverts a mystery and fantasy genre, a more nuanced exploration of the characters is lacking. The characters’ race is not discussed, but the story takes place in a contemporary English village. The book is beautifully presented with an intriguingly ominous cover featuring vines and the shadowy figure of a girl, complemented by thorn-framed pages for the diary sections. Although the characters may fall into familiar types, young readers who enjoy mystery and fantasy will enjoy this story, and this would be a strong recommendation for anyone seeking a book that grabs them from the first page.
Briony Everroad—San José State University iSchool Student