Rules For Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall was published by Walker Books and is sold at £5.75
What is the book about?
Rules For Vanishing is based around the story of a girl named Lucy Gallows who disappeared through a hidden road into a forest near a small town and never came back. The town never really stopped talking about it and one year before the story begins a girl named Becca went out to search for her and also went missing. Now, after receiving a mysterious text inviting local high schoolers to the hidden road, Becca’s sister Sara decides to join in on the search. It follows her journey and what she found with time jumps and a documentary style of story telling.
Who is it aimed at?
This particular book is one of those that is definitely primarily aimed at teenagers. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone much older or younger than sixteen due to the style and content of the novel.
What was your favourite part?
What I found most interesting about this book was the idea and plot. I think the concept of this chilling mystery was clever and somehow simultaneously unique and classic. This was the main thing that caught my interest.
What was your least favourite part?
Though I was intrigued by the story of Rules For Vanishing, I just couldn’t get past my feeling that the characters were difficult to relate to and at times boring. This made it difficult to keep interest.
Which character would you most like to meet?
Of the people involved, I would most enjoy meeting Lucy Gallows as she was the one who was at the beginning of it all. Stories can become twisted over time and she was the primary source in this one.
Why should someone buy this book?
I would recommend this to someone looking for something a little bit darker coming into the later months of the year. Though I personally struggled with the characters, I found it to be a fascinating plot
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here