Maxine's older brother Derek has disappeared and is believed to be dead. The family is overwhelmed with grief. Maxine suffers in school, loses friends and is losing the interest of her parents. Then the phone calls begin--a boy claiming to be Derek. Is it truly her brother or could it be one of the bullies who relentlessly tormented him when he was alive?Missing might seem a simple lost and found story, but at its heart lies a compelling examination of what it means to feel powerless and alone. The unexpected ending is written responsibly and with no easy answers. MacPhail writes with page-turning style, making this book eminently readable and thoroughly absorbing.