The capitalization seems like it was meant for emphasis, or to draw attention to bigger words that Dolly had picked up from an adult, but it only served to annoy me. I was only a few pages into the book before I realized that I wasn’t going to love it, all because of the strange way the author chose to capitalize so many words as Dolly spoke them. It’s not obvious whether she is heading toward an improved, or worsened situation until the very end of the book, so the low hum of anxiety never really abates for the reader. It only takes a few chapters to realize that both parental figures in Dolly’s life are struggling, which furthers the already deepening sense of dread one feels while reading about Dolly’s abduction. Sometimes Dolly’s memories of her are pleasant, as her Mom seems like the fun parent who often encouraged and participated in imaginative play, but she also recalls being dragged to the malls for shopping trips where the purchased things in secret. Her Mom is obsessed with her appearance, dieting, and getting the ‘big break’ that will cement her career as a famous actress. Her Dad lost his job during the financial crash of 2008, so he now works at a used car dealership and drinks heavily when he gets home. Because we are learning about Dolly’s life through her eyes only, we swing between empathy for her father and her mother. As this book chugs along and Dolly gets further and further from home, we realize that her Dad is on the run from something, most likely connected to this other man that has entered her mother’s life.
As with any book written from a child’s perspective, the reader has to infer what is truly happening. Normally she’s with her Mom who has recently started seeing an older man with big plans for them both, so Dolly prefers to be at home with her toys, or with both her parents at the same time. It seemed like it would be a mix of suspense, family drama and adventure…and it was definitely all those things, unfortunately Dolly’s voice was a little too realistic, grating on my nerves as I continued through the 277 pages.ĭolly is excited to go on a road trip with just her Dad.
This is why I had such high hopes for All The Lost Things by Michelle Sacks, a work of fiction about a Dad abducting his 7-year-old daughter Dolly. Although it’s difficult to write in the voice of a child, I’ve had pretty good luck finding authors that do it well.
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