Message Not Found by Dante Medema

MESSAGE NOT FOUND by Dante Medema is a newer young adult novel which cleverly combines a mystery with themes of grief and friendship. Alaskan high school student Vanessa dies in a road accident one night; she is not where she is supposed to be and her best friend, Bailey, and boyfriend, Mason, feel guilt and remorse while struggling for closure. Bailey is a computer whiz and adapts a prototype app so that she can communicate with “V” who responds to texts based on old emails, messages and texts that Vanessa wrote – simultaneously spooky and fascinating, particularly because Medema deepens V’s voice and “character” as more inputs are added to the app. Reluctant readers will be drawn in by the short chapters and text passages. The story’s subtitle could be a version of “ignorance is bliss” because Bailey discovers some shocking news about Vanessa and their friend group. The emotions associated with loss and heartache are raw and realistically conveyed. MESSAGE NOT FOUND will definitely appeal to fans of E. Lockhart (We Were Liars), Karen M. McManus (The Cousins and others), and Jennifer Lynn Alvarez (Lies Like Wildfire).