Lost and Found (the book) is set against the backdrop of Lost and Found, a reality TV show that is basically The Amazing Race with a scavenger hunt thrown in. Teams of two race around the world, stopping at various checkpoints; the last team to arrive at each checkpoint is eliminated. But the race isn't really the story here. Parkhurst is more interested in the relationships between the members of each team, and those that develop between the teams -- the real reality behind the made-for-TV "reality."
We focus on three teams. Laura is a single mom and Cassie is her teenage daughter; their relationship has been strained of late because of a secret Cassie waited as long as possible to share with her mother, who now feels guilty for not realized sooner what was going on. Abby and Justin are newlyweds, hoping to use the show as a forum to spread their message: God can save you from homosexuality, as he has saved both of them. Juliet and Dallas are former child TV stars struggling to adjust to life post-stardom; Juliet is particularly eager to work her way back into the limelight.
Everyone gets to tell the story; a new character takes over the narration with each chapter. Parkhurst gives each of her characters a distinctive voice, and she has a knack for turning to each narrator just as you find yourself wondering what they're up to.
The host of Lost and Found asks each eliminated contestant the same question, "You've lost the race, but what have you found?" What most of her characters find is themselves, and sure, that's not the most original story in the world, but Parkhurst's variation on the theme is crisply written, with sincere feeling and flashes of wit. Her characters' emotional lives feel genuine, and their behavior rings true.
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