Publishers Weekly
11/13/2017
High school senior Payton Brave struggles with the disappearance of her twin sister, Dylan, in this underwhelming first novel from actress Madison and coauthor Miller. Payton was present the morning Dylan vanished from a bus bathroom in their small Mississippi town, but she has no memory of what happened. An angry Payton rebels against her “good girl” persona, watching her car go up in flames, changing her name to “Poe,” and hanging out with the school misfits, including her sister’s boyfriend, Cole. When Payton learns that two other girls matching Dylan’s description have also gone missing, she feels the need to start her own investigation. Flashbacks to the preceding year let readers get acquainted with Dylan, but they will need to stay on their toes to keep track of the timeline as the narrative jumps around. Laden with extraneous detail and two-dimensional characters, this slow-moving mystery is further let down by clumsy writing (“It was Starr’s expectation that she should attract more attention than Payton ever could, that drove Payton up a literal wall”) and closing twists that are both predictable and strain belief. Ages 13–up. Agency: Legacy. (Jan.)
Booklist
Its been a year since Payton's twin sister, Dylan, disappeared from a bus station bathroom. Despite her best efforts, Payton still hasn't been able to recall anything that happened the day Dylan vanished, and lately she's been struggling to keep up her perfect popular-girl persona. When another girl goes missing, new information is unearthed about Dylan's disappearance, and Payton is determined to get to the bottom of it. As she unravels the secrets surrounding Dylan and others in their small town, Payton finds herself going down a darker and more dangerous path than she could have ever imagined. Though the pacing starts slow, it accelerates as more and more clues mount. Despite the pacing problems, Madison (an established actress) and Miller are able to realistically portray southern culture, especially of life in a small town. The characters—and, of course, the twist at the end—make this book one that fans of mystery and drama will definitely enjoy.— Amanda Shepard
actress and author Candace Cameron Bure
'If you love mystery, suspense, a touch of romance, and a plot that will keep you guessing from the start, pick up Losing Brave. It's a great read for all ages!'
actress Marcia Gay Harden
'The Southern setting, suspense, touch of romance, intriguing characters, and the mystery surrounding what happened to Payton's sister add up to a book that ticks all the right boxes. I highly recommend Losing Brave!'
actress Chloë Grace Moretz
'I was on the edge of my seat with each twist and turn, and the ending blew me away. Pick up Losing Brave and prepare yourself for a late night of reading, because you won't be able to put this book down until the very last page.'
actress Maia Mitchell
'I very much enjoyed reading Losing Brave. Bailee Madison and Stefne Miller have crafted a story that unfolds in surprising ways, and the character of Poe will stick with you long after the book ends.'
actress Christina Hendricks
'Bailee Madison uses her unique observation of human behavior and environment, that she's used so beautifully as an actress, in this collaboration with Stefne Miller, to create a richly detailed, haunting world that keeps you turning the page with anticipation.'
Fifth Harmony Ally Brooke
'Losing Brave is an engaging story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The mystery of Dylan's disappearance, and how it affects her twin sister will keep you guessing with each twist and turn along the way.'
actress Chloë Grace Moretz
'I was on the edge of my seat with each twist and turn, and the ending blew me away. Pick up Losing Brave and prepare yourself for a late night of reading, because you won't be able to put this book down until the very last page.'
Booklist
Its been a year since Payton's twin sister, Dylan, disappeared from a bus station bathroom. Despite her best efforts, Payton still hasn't been able to recall anything that happened the day Dylan vanished, and lately she's been struggling to keep up her perfect popular-girl persona. When another girl goes missing, new information is unearthed about Dylan's disappearance, and Payton is determined to get to the bottom of it. As she unravels the secrets surrounding Dylan and others in their small town, Payton finds herself going down a darker and more dangerous path than she could have ever imagined. Though the pacing starts slow, it accelerates as more and more clues mount. Despite the pacing problems, Madison (an established actress) and Miller are able to realistically portray southern culture, especially of life in a small town. The characters—and, of course, the twist at the end—make this book one that fans of mystery and drama will definitely enjoy. — Amanda Shepard
School Library Journal
11/01/2017
Gr 7 Up—Suspense builds as a family's tragedy unfolds in this engrossing and touching novel. Almost a year before the story begins, Payton Brave's twin sister Dylan mysteriously disappears. Although Payton was with Dylan the day her sister vanished, she cannot remember what happened. Coauthors Madison and Miller strategically peel back the many layers of the mystery, slowly revealing just enough to keep readers hooked. Though close, the twins were opposite in many ways. Payton is part of the "in" crowd; Dylan never cared about being popular. Once Dylan disappeared, Payton began to question her own choices. Her life as one of Cornwell High's "It Girls" seems more effort than she can manage. Her mortician stepfather, doctor mother, and elderly Nana are loving, but the family members are locked in their individual battles to move forward without knowing what happened to Dylan. As Payton distances herself from her friends and family and even her name (she rechristens herself Poe after the macabre writer), she grows closer to Dylan's crowd of school outcasts. She also finds herself becoming more dependent on Dylan's boyfriend Cole. She's conflicted by her attraction to him, but she needs Cole, as he is the only one willing to help her search for the person who took her sister. As Poe moves closer to finding the assailant, she puts herself in danger. VERDICT A suspenseful thriller with heart and an unexpected twist. Highly recommended.—Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT
Kirkus Reviews
2018-02-05
An emotional Southern tale about the loss of a sister, the loss of self, and the quest to find wholeness after a terrible tragedy.High school senior Payton would do anything to remember the events surrounding her twin sister Dylan's disappearance. However, memories elude her even as some unexpected personality traits begin to surface. Whether it is her sudden preference for less girly clothing or her growing attraction to her sister's boyfriend, Payton finds that she is less and less certain of who she is. When another girl who strongly resembles Dylan goes missing, Payton is forced to confront a shocking truth about that terrible morning, one that may just result in a death. While this is a reminder of the depths grief can reach and the extent to which the mind will twist reality in order to cling to sanity, a proliferation of stereotypes, leaden writing, and overused tropes greatly deaden the novel's impact. Time jumps and shifts in point of view further muddy the waters in this atmospheric yet overly ambitious tale. Payton's evolution lacks emotional weight, leaving the story feeling gimmicky. While the cast is almost completely white, Dylan's love interest is a deaf boy who wears hearing aids.Southern charm without substance. (Fiction. 14-18)
