Concealed

Concealed
Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Scholastic, 2021
304 pages
Grades 4-7
Mystery/Adventure

Katrina is use to keeping secrets and moving, since her family has been part of the witness protection program for the past three years. Because of an accident, she retains no memories of the time before and only knows life under the radar. Now Katrina and her parents find themselves in a trailer park and she has the opportunity to make her first friend. Parker is a boy with troubles of his own. After losing his mother to addiction he has been bounced around foster homes. An expert computer hacker, he has also had run-ins with the law. Parker agrees to help Katrina discover the secrets to her past, only before they can dive in too far what appears to be FBI agents swarm the traitor park and take Katrina's mother. The two youths hit the road and escape to what Katrina knows as a safe house. Their contact at the safe house "X" is fishy. Should they trust him? What is the truth behind Katrina's family's situation and her actual identity? All is revealed as Katrina and Parker work together to find safety and answers.

I was attracted to this title by the hook of the Witness Protection Program. I love books on this topic, Hush by Woodson being one of my favorites. To my surprise this book is so much more. Concealed is a mystery thriller that takes off at a break-neck speed, gains momentum and keeps getting better. The plot contains twists and turns that connect with real scientific advancements (as explored in an author's note) that read like science fiction. The truth behind Katrina's identity, "X", and her parents is really cool. There are surprises along the way that caught me off guard and will keep young readers turning pages. Reluctant readers, especially, will enjoy this book and it will easily appeal to both boys and girls. I was surprised to discover that more libraries in my system did not pick this title up. Maybe the cover doesn't help it? I have it on order and will certainly hand-sell it once it arrives. Hard to put down, give to fans of James Paterson and Margaret Peterson Haddix.