The Last Child
Books | Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
3.9
(367)
John Hart
Winner of the 2010 Edgar Award for Best NovelHeralded by the Washington Post as a "a magnificent creation, Huck Finn channeled through Lord of the Flies", John Hart's The Last Child is his most significant work to date, an intricate, powerful story of loss, hope, and courage in the face of evil. Thirteen year-old Johnny Merrimon had the perfect life: a warm home and loving parents; a twin sister, Alyssa, with whom he shared an irreplaceable bond. He knew nothing of loss, until the day Alyssa vanished from the side of a lonely street. Now, a year later, Johnny finds himself isolated and alone, failed by the people he'd been taught since birth to trust. No one else believes that Alyssa is still alive, but Johnny is certain that she is---confident in a way that he can never fully explain.Determined to find his sister, Johnny risks everything to explore the dark side of his hometown. It is a desperate, terrifying search, but Johnny is not as alone as he might think. Detective Clyde Hunt has never stopped looking for Alyssa either, and he has a soft spot for Johnny. He watches over the boy and tries to keep him safe, but when Johnny uncovers a dangerous lead and vows to follow it, Hunt has no choice but to intervene.Then a second child goes missing . . . Undeterred by Hunt's threats or his mother's pleas, Johnny enlists the help of his last friend, and together they plunge into the wild, to a forgotten place with a history of violence that goes back more than a hundred years. There, they meet a giant of a man, an escaped convict on his own tragic quest. What they learn from him will shatter every notion Johnny had about the fate of his sister; it will lead them to another far place, to a truth that will test both boys to the limit.Traveling the wilderness between innocence and hard wisdom, between hopelessness and faith, The Last Child leaves all categories behind and establishes John Hart as a writer of unique power.Now with an excerpt from John Hart's next book The Hush, available in February 2018.
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More Details:
Author
John Hart
Pages
384
Publisher
St. Martin's Publishing Group
Published Date
2009-05-26
ISBN
1429961937 9781429961936
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"So bleak and monotone that I couldn’t get through it. Skipped through the chapters to get the ending. "
H S
Hannah Smith
"Coming of Age book with atmospheric writing you just step into."
P S
Pamela Sturrock
"Easily the most mature book I’ve ever read, but that was to be expected. It was adult, and not YA. I really loved this book. It was the kind where you change your theory sixty times, all the while chanting under your breath: “WOULD YOU JUST HUG THAT KID ALREADY?!” Hunt was an amazing character and Johnny, regardless of the circumstances, is relatable. 10/10 recommended for appropriate readers, especially those who love the #foundfamily tropes."
"4.25. Excellent"
G T
Gray Tischler
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