The Girl in the White Van by April Henry

Bibliographic Information:

• Title: The Girl in the White Van
• Author: April Henry
• ISBN: 1250157595
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
• Copyright Date: July 28, 2020

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Format: Book

Awards/Honors: YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers 2021

Reading Level/Interest Level: Teens Grades 10-12, Ages 15-18 (Baker & Taylor Titlesource360)

Plot Summary: When Savannah Taylor doesn’t come home after her Kung Fu class, everyone thinks she ran away since she had gotten in a fight with her mother’s abusive boyfriend before the class. The truth is she was kidnapped by a man in a white van who had been waiting in the parking lot near her Kung Fu school. Savannah attempted to escape from the moving van but broke her arm and was recaptured. She was taken to an abandoned RV, where she met Jenny who had been abducted ten months earlier. Jenny had been attacked by a dog and was disfigured while trying to escape. Together, the girls try to figure out how to escape when they realize that their abductor, known as “sir,” was going to kill them. Relying on Savannah’s Kung Fu training and words of wisdom from Bruce Lee, the girls hatch a plan that could lead to their freedom or their death.

Author Background: April Henry is the author of over 25 mystery/thriller books for teens and adults. She began reading at the age of three and was an avid reader as a child. When she was 12, she sent a story to Roald Dahl about a frog who loved peanut butter. He liked it so much that he had his editor get it published in Puffin Post, an international children’s magazine (April Henry, N.D.) Henry did not start writing books until she was in her 30s. She had a corporate job and began writing on the side. Since then, she has written 27 books for adults and teens and plans on writing more. Her books have been on the New York Times Bestseller List, gotten starred reviews, been selected for Booksense, and been translated into seven languages. She has also won many awards. (Goodreads, 2020).

April Henry grew up in a small town in Oregon. Her mother was a florist, and her father was a TV broadcaster. The family did not have much money, but she spent a lot of time at the local library. Henry received a business degree from Oregon State and got a job doing hospital admitting. She worked full-time while writing until 2008, when she left her job to focus on writing. April Henry lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their daughter. She enjoys Brazilian jiujitsu, running, cooking, and reading.

Critical Evaluation: The Girl in the White Van is a fast-paced thriller that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. It is told by multiple first person perspectives which adds to the suspense of the story. Most of the story is told through Savannah’s perspective, but there are also chapters of the point of view of Jenny, Daniel (a friend of Savannah’s from Kung Fu class,), Jenny’s parents, Savannah’s mom, and the suspects. Their abductor’s identity remains a secret which adds to the suspense of the story. The book is full of wisdom from Bruce Lee which the girls learn from one of Savannah’s books. These quotes help set the tone for each chapter. The book is creepy and thought provoking- it definitely kept me up at night! This book would be a good pick for reluctant readers since it is short, fast-paced, and engaging.

Creative Use for a Library Program: The Girl in the White Van can be tied into the Murder Mystery Party that the library is hosting for teens. The teens could read a few suspense/mystery/thriller books for a book club and have the Murder Mystery Party as the final event. The event would be held after hours at the library. Staff members would be the characters and play the part of the suspects. Snacks or dinner would be served.

Speed-Round Book Talk: Kidnapped and imprisoned in an abandoned RV, Savannah Taylor must figure out how to escape! Using her Kung Fu training and the wisdom of Bruce Lee, Savannah and Jenny, the girl she is imprisoned with, hatch a plan that will either set them free or lead them straight into the killer’s arms! Find out what happens in this edge-of-your-seat thriller, The Girl in the White Van!

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense: Challenges could arise for this book because of its scary, creepy nature. It could be too intense for younger teens or for those who are more sensitive. A defense to that could be that the book is rated for older teens, and most teens who read this genre, should know what to expect.

Reason for Inclusion: I included The Girl in the White Van because it is a short, fast-paced, well written book by April Henry. Henry is a popular author for teens, and mystery/thrillers/suspense are all popular genres. This would be a great pick for reluctant readers or for any teens looking for a quick, engaging read.

References:

April Henry. (2020, June 25). The creepy true story behind The Girl in the White Van. [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhbFLHQ1d6I&ab_channel=AprilHenry

April Henry. (N.D.) Bio. Retrieved from https://www.aprilhenry.com/bio.html

Goodreads. (2020) April Henry. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/88507.April_Henry