Sent (The Missing: Book 2) [Hardcover]

Margaret Peterson Haddix (Author)

Book Description

Jonah and Chip have barely adjusted to the discovery that they are actually the missing children of history when a time purist named JB sends them, along with Katherine and Alex, hurtling back in time to 1483. JB promises that if they can fix history, they can all return to their present-day lives. Now Chip and Alex have to reclaim their true identities—as the king and prince of England. But things get complicated when the four discover that according to the records, the princes were murdered. How can they fix history if it means that Chip and Alex will die? Margaret Peterson Haddix is the author of Found, the bestselling Shadow Children series, Uprising, Running Out of Time, and many more

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–8—This book begins where Found (S & S, 2008) left off: Chip, Jonah, Katherine, and Alex are falling through time. They find themselves in 1483 in the Tower of London where the famously imprisoned princes, Edward and Richard, are fearfully awaiting their fates. As was revealed at the end of Found, Chip and Alex are really Edward and Richard, spirited away to our current century by time travelers in a misguided attempt to save their lives. The four fumble through attempts to figure out how to save them from their historically presumed deaths. While the children know next to nothing about the real princes, they have a firsthand chance to watch history in the making, all the while hoping that they won't alter time too much and end up getting the princes killed anyway. Haddix ratchets up the tension here, letting it mount in moment-by-moment near misses and escapes. The kids' futuristic helper, JB, tries his best to keep them from causing too much damage to time, showing himself to be on their side. Full of interesting historical details, but muddy with the science of time travel, this is a fantastic follow-up to the first book. Haddix even poses an interesting "what if" about the real fates of Edward and Richard. By the book's end, Jonah still doesn't know who he really is, and readers will be just as anxious as he is to find out. The next installment can't come quickly enough.—Necia Blundy, Marlborough Public Library, MA END

About the Author

Margaret Peterson Haddix is the author of many critically and popularly acclaimed YA and middle-grade novels, including the Shadow Children series and The Missing series. A graduate of Miami University (of Ohio), she worked for several years as a reporter for The Indianapolis News. She also taught at the Danville (Illinois) Area Community College. She lives with her family in Columbus, Ohio. Visit her at www.haddixbooks.com.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; Later Printing edition (August 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416954228
• ISBN-13: 978-1416954224
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Medieval

More About the Author

I grew up on a farm outside Washington Court House, Ohio. As a kid, I liked to read a lot, and was also involved in 4-H, various bands and choirs (I played flute and piano), church youth group, the school newspaper, and a quiz-bowl type team. I was pretty disastrous as an athlete, although I did run track one year in high school. After graduating from Miami University (of Ohio), I worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a part-time community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois, before my first book was published. I've moved around a lot as an adult, having also lived in Luxembourg (during a college semester abroad) and in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. Several years ago, I moved back to Ohio with my husband and kids; we now live in Columbus, Ohio. My husband trains investigative journalists, and my kids are in high school, so there's always a lot going on around our house.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Fast-Paced Action and Colorful Characters, September 22, 2009

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sent (The Missing: Book 2) (Hardcover)

Thirteen-year-old Jonah Skidmore feels like an average kid, complete with an intelligent but slightly annoying younger sister named Katherine, a mom and dad who constantly reassure their children that they are special and well loved, and a quiet home in the suburbs of Ohio. The fact that Jonah is adopted has never been a big deal for him, maybe because his parents have always been so open and reassuring about it. To Jonah, life feels normal. But then he receives a letter with six simple words, "YOU ARE ONE OF THE MISSING," and his life flips upside down and way out of control.

After some investigating with Katherine and his best friend, Chip, they discover an amazing secret: Chip and Jonah are part of a group of kids who have been stolen out of time --- and their kidnapping has damaged history. J.B., a time officer, has rounded up the 36 children and is determined to set history straight by sending them back to "when" they belong. The first two to leave are Chip and Alex. But refusing to let them go alone, Jonah and Katherine grab on at the last second, and they all hurtle back through time to the year 1483.

With the use of a tool called an Elucidator, the foursome can keep in contact with J.B., who agrees to give Jonah and Katherine a chance to help Chip and Alex. They soon find out that Chip and Alex are not only brothers, but also the king and prince of England. That isn't quite as glamorous as it first seems, though, as someone is out to kill them and take over the crown.

The kids struggle to fit in to the 15th century, a time with no fast food, cell phones, or modern plumbing. If they make one little mistake, they could destroy history even more. While attempting to learn the new and complex rules of time travel and save his friends' lives, Jonah can't help but wonder who he actually is and from what time period he really belongs. He'll learn the answers to those questions in time, as he and his companions jump into the greatest adventures of their lives.

Prolific author Margaret Peterson Haddix has served up another winner. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the sequel in this awesome series, and now they can finally dive into the next adventure. Haddix has created such a unique and fascinating idea for The Missing, and she does a wonderful job of refreshing readers' memories of the first book, FOUND, without sounding boring or redundant. She pulls her audience through the pages with intriguing thoughts and ideas on time travel, lots of fast-paced action and colorful characters; almost every chapter ends with a cliffhanger that just begs readers to turn the page and continue the adventure. She writes with an enthusiastic energy that flows through her characters and right into her fans.

More adventures in time travel with Jonah and Katherine are in the works as the series continues, though it couldn't possibly get here fast enough.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars history that's fun, August 28, 2009

By 

S. Eshbach "lover of books and teaching" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sent (The Missing: Book 2) (Hardcover)

Margaret Petersen Haddix doesn't disappoint in this sequel to FOUND. The children are being returned to their proper time periods so that time is not damaged. Chip finds out that he is the king of England, and Alex is his younger brother. Richard III (their uncle and antagonist in this story and in history) has aspirations for the crown. The historical facts, as well as some of the conjecture, make this a fascinating read. Find out if Chip really rules as Edward V, and what becomes of his amibitous uncle who plots Chip's demise. Hint : As William Shakespeare quoted Richard III - "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse." (or something close to that). Great read.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great historical fantasy for kids - Peterson scores!, September 21, 2009

By 

SB Frank "FanLit Frankly @Fantasyliterature.com" (Fanlit Frankly) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sent (Missing) (Kindle Edition)

This is the sequel to Found. I'm not a particular fan of historical fiction and I prefer urban to medieval fantasy generally. But Haddix scores a home run with this novel and series. Designed for an older audience than the Magic Treehouse series and just significantly better in so many ways (nothing against the Treehouse series, which I also enjoy). I can't wait to read it again with my daughter. A great read!