Inspired by true events that took place in Victoria, B.C., in the early 1990s, pre-school teacher and former journalist Wendy Jean set out to tell a story that is not often heard: that of the child who hasn’t been abducted.

Set in Helena, Montana, Unstolen is written from the point of view of Bethany Fisher, an incredibly advanced 19-year-old mother, police sketch artist, and an author of children’s books. Her whole life has been built around the disappearance of her older brother Michael at a county fair when she was still in diapers. Her mother, unwilling to believe that her son could truly be gone forever, becomes obsessed with finding him, or at least being ready for him when he returns. Every birthday is celebrated, complete with cake; Christmas brings a pile of presents that are dutifully tucked into his closet year after year, wrapping still in place – all just in case. Meanwhile, Bethany dutifully wishes for the return of a brother she’s never known, living in his shadow and feeling insignificant by comparison.

Jean does an admirable job of tackling what could easily have been a “poor me” story. Not only has she given her narrator depth and an interesting personality, but she captures the voice of a mature teen quite well. Occasionally the dialogue feels forced and unnatural, but these instances are rare and are far overshadowed by Jean’s ability to keep the story at a thriller-like pace and the reader engaged. The other characters are also well-drawn, especially the mother, a complex and infuriating character who will have an effect on anyone who has experienced parental indifference.

Unstolen is a great debut by a promising author. Given the delicate subject matter, the book manages to be serious without being maudlin – no easy feat, even for a seasoned writer.