"The Girl in the White Van" was a quick read told from multiple points of view - probably too many considering the novel was only 224 pages long. However, the plot moved along at a good pace, typical of this author's writing, but I found the ending rushed and anti-climatic.

Even though Savannah was the main protagonist, I found Jenny the more interesting of the two kidnapped girls. Her story was poignant considering she had been imprisoned for such a long time, How she received the scars on her face was horrible!

While I found this to be quite an enjoyable read, I have definitely read better novels by April Henry. ( )

I absolutely love this author’s books. She takes young people and puts them in situations that are a nightmare in themselves. Savannah is a young girl who is kidnapped. She is taken out to an old trailer where she finds Jenny. She is another kidnap victim and has been held for ten months. Savannah and Jenny are completely different. Savannah takes Kung Fu and so she fights back. Jenny seems to have just given up until she meets Savannah. As they try to escape knowing the danger the tension is brought to a whole new level. Just like in her book, “The Night She Disappeared” the author has given us a character in Savannah that is willing to fight back. This action keeps the story moving forward. I love how her characters are strong girls, or girls who find the strength to do what they didn’t know they could do. I had to wait until the summer to read this because my students handed it from one to the other. I can make sure to get this book into the hands of my students. ( )

Savannah has moved more times than she can remember because her mother continues to look for happiness with men she meets in online dating sites. Savannah has tried to make the best of it, but has finally come to the conclusion that it is useless to make friends when she is just going to have to leave soon anyway. One evening when she is on the way to her Kung Fu class, she has a terrible argument with her mother's boyfriend, Tim, and he takes away her phone. After class, Savannah is kidnapped and finds herself in a dire situation with another girl named Jenny who has been with "Sir" for several months. After "Sir" drains all of the water out of the RV where the two girls are staying, both girls realize that they are going to die if they don't find a way to escape.

Because The Girl in the White Van is so short, there is little time for in-depth character or plot development. However, at the beginning of each chapter, there are quotes by Bruce Lee, whose book Savannah is reading. The quotes are profound and add something interesting to a story that is pretty much a bare bones kidnapping story. Overall, the book does what it needs to do to tell the story, but that is just about all it does. ( )

Savannah bites her tongue and has self control beyond her years, as she deals with her mom’s boyfriend, who had me fuming. Perhaps her calm comes from her Kung Fu studies or her Bruce Lee readings offering deep thought. Kung fu practice ends and she spends time with the gorgeous senior, Daniel, who has caught her eye, but she cannot get close to anyone, so she must forget that he seems to like her and she likes him. Savannah ventures home after practice, but while deep in thought someone grabs her! Will her Kung Fu practice and Bruce Lee advice aid her against this attack?

April Henry has done it again! This book pulls you in, raises your heart rate, finds you determined for Savannah and Jenny, and takes you into captivity but also sweet freedom. Together-Savannah and Jenny are kick butt strong young ladies. Defeat is not in their vocabulary! Highly recommend!! Preordering today!

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