Welcome to Friday 56! Hosted by Freda’s Voice, you turn to page 56 or 56% in any book or reading device and pick a sentence that grabs you.

They were too busy arguing to pay much attention to either Erica or me. I don’t think they realized how miserable we were. Or how much they’d changed.

Took by Mary Downing Hahn, page 56

At this point in the book, Erica and her brother Daniel have moved with their parents from Fairfield, Connecticut to a small town in West Virginia. The children’s family, a once successful investment banker, has been laid off and is unable to find gainful employment in his chosen career, and since CT is so expensive, they sold their house and move to WV. The kids are outcast, coming from a “fancy” place, and do not make any friends. The parents, obtaining retail jobs, are also unhappy.

I have to say that I am more than a little confused. Why would an investment banker move to WV and take a job at Home Depot? Since this is a children’s middle grade book, maybe that particular detail doesn’t matter (nor would it be picked up by the intended audience?).

Anyway, the set up so far about the girl disappearing from the house Daniel and Erica’s family bought (and that maybe Erica is next) is good and I am interested to find out what happens.