THE HAUNTED PURSE

A teen’s new, otherworldly handbag compels her to investigate a missing persons case in Baer’s YA mystery.

High school sophomore Libby Dawson lives by herself in an Ashton, Ohio, apartment. Her mother stays with a rich boyfriend (who’s unaware she has a daughter) and gives Libby just enough money to survive. While perusing her favorite thrift store with best friend Toni Moore, Libby scores a retro tote-bag-sized denim purse. It’s big enough to carry quite a lot; the only problem is that things she puts in the purse often disappear. They pop up again eventually, as do items she’s never seen before, like a perfume bottle and an old photograph. Curious, Libby tries identifying a girl in the photo and discovers she’s been missing for 20 years. As the purse continues providing clues, Libby digs deeper and soon suspects that someone in Ashton has made sure this girl disappeared. Is Libby now putting herself in danger? Baer’s supernatural premise kicks off an absorbing whodunit and enhances the narrative’s sense of melodrama. (The purse stirs up problems in Libby’s personal life as it vanishes her homework and angers people when some items that disappear aren’t hers.) Libby is a dynamic, sympathetic protagonist; her callous mother treats her like an inconvenience, but she tells no one, not even Toni, that she’s living alone. The teen immerses herself in a sublime mystery that complements, without overshadowing, her own story. She impressively researches, does the footwork, and identifies a suspect or two, as the missing girl seemingly finds a way to communicate with Libby via objects that suddenly appear in the purse. While it’s true that Libby is mature and responsible, she also struggles with self-esteem, and it’s genuinely rewarding to see her build up her confidence (“My same old Libby. I liked the sound of that”) as the tautly-written tale rolls along.

This winning, character-driven supernatural thriller features a multilayered adolescent hero.