Novel: Found

Overview
Found opens with a mysterious premise and a strong central hook: two thirteen-year-old boys, Jonah and Chip, begin receiving strange, unsigned letters that contain names and dates no one else seems to understand. Those letters set off a chain of discoveries that pull the boys away from ordinary middle-school life and into a larger, stranger story about children who have disappeared from history. The novel plants its first clues quickly, setting up questions about identity, family, and the meaning of being "lost" in time.
The book is the first entry in Margaret Peterson Haddix's Missing series and functions as both a standalone mystery and the opening of a long, unfolding puzzle. It frames a thriller-sized premise, time, stolen children, and a conspiracy with far-reaching consequences, while keeping the reader firmly inside the perspective and fears of adolescents who have to grow up fast.

Plot
The narrative follows Jonah as the enigmatic letters arrive and as each revelation makes his ordinary life feel less reliable. As Jonah and Chip pursue answers, they learn that the names in the letters correspond to famous historical disappearances and that whatever or whoever is responsible has been manipulating history. The boys' search for truth escalates as they connect seemingly unrelated events and realize they, too, may be part of the larger mystery.
Investigations lead to startling discoveries about people who have vanished from their own times and about modern-day figures who seem to know more than they admit. The pacing alternates between investigative sequences, personal discovery, and moments of suspense that end chapters on hard-to-ignore cliffhangers. The book closes with revelations that expand the scope of the mystery and compel readers to follow the series further.

Main Characters
Jonah serves as the emotional center: a thoughtful, often insecure thirteen-year-old whose life has been shaped by foster care and a yearning for belonging. His skepticism and moral questioning drive many of the book's most urgent decisions. Chip, who is also thirteen, provides a contrast in temperament and background, and his loyalty and curiosity help propel the partnership forward.
A cast of secondary characters, friends, adults who may be allies or enemies, and figures tied to the missing children, populate the story, each bringing new clues or complications. Relationships are depicted with believable adolescent friction and tenderness; bonds formed under pressure feel authentic rather than melodramatic.

Major Themes
Identity and belonging sit at the heart of the novel. Characters confront questions about who they are if the narrative of their past is suddenly up for grabs, and the book explores how family can be both biological and chosen. The ethical implications of moving people through time, rescuing them, erasing them, or changing their fates, create moral dilemmas that deepen the plot beyond a simple adventure.
History and responsibility also resonate throughout: the idea that certain events and people matter to the larger story of humanity weighs heavily on the protagonists. Haddix examines whether correcting historical wrongs justifies dangerous interventions and how the past's disappearance affects those left behind.

Style and Tone
Haddix writes with clear, brisk prose that prioritizes momentum and accessibility, making the book suitable for middle-grade and younger YA readers while still engaging older readers who enjoy puzzles and speculative twists. The tone is suspenseful without becoming overwrought, balancing moments of introspection with action and steadily raising stakes to maintain tension.
The plot's cliffhangers and short chapters make the book a page-turner; conversational narration keeps the emotional stakes immediate and grounded in teenage experience.

Why Read It
Found is ideal for readers who enjoy fast-moving mysteries with speculative premises and emotional depth. It blends time-travel implications with personal stakes, offering a series-opening story that raises immediate questions and delivers enough answers to satisfy while promising more. The novel is compelling for anyone who likes puzzles, ethical quandaries, and protagonists who must redefine family and self in the face of extraordinary revelations.