There's No Place Like Here

By Ceclia Ahern

Sandy Shortt's obsession began over 20 years ago, when a classmate went missing.  Ever since, Sandy feels a compulsion to seek out lost things, whether it is a missing sock, a stuffed animal, or her toothbrush.  It's no surprise that she has built her life around solving missing persons' cases, trying to find that missing part of her own life.  Her parents don't understand, and her only friends are those she has tried to help. 

Jack Ruttle is Sandy's latest client.  When she disappears the day they are set to meet, Jack is the only one worried.  Everyone tells him that Sandy disappears for days when she feels too attached or overwhelmed.  But Jack feels that Sandy might be the only person that can help him find his brother, Donal, who has been missing for over a year. 

Meanwhile, Sandy has found herself in another place - one that she cannot escape.  Here she meets some of her "lost" people, along with some of her missing possessions.  Can there really be a place where lost things go?

This story seemed to be a different take on The Wizard of Oz, except that Sandy didn't exactly yearn for home in the beginning.  She was relieved to finally find out where things end up.  I liked Jack - he felt guilty about not caring enough for Donal when he was around, and felt obligated to know what happened to him, even though his family felt he needed to let go.  It was two stories in one, which due to my own short attention span, was perfect.