Books About Missing Children

The Best Missing Children Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Books About Missing Persons, featuring 13 favorites and recommendations by age.

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Looking for excellent children's books about missing children? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Missing Children

Caught
Chapter Book · 2012

Caught

Book #5 in the The Missing series

Time travelers face a mother's fierce grip on her daughter's fate.

343 pages· 62,194 words
4.2 Goodreads · 7,310 ratings
Hardcover
Summary: Jonah and Katherine journey to early 1900s Europe, tasked with returning Albert Einstein's daughter, Lieserl, to her rightful place in history. But Lieserl's mother, Mileva, understands the secrets of time travel and refuses to let her daughter go. As the duo navigates the complexities of time and maternal love, they must decide how far they're willing to go to fulfill their mission. Will they succeed, or will Mileva's determination alter the course of history forever?
The Piper's Pursuit
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2019

The Piper's Pursuit

By Melanie Dickerson · Fairy Tale Romance Series series

A village plagued by rats and a beast. Can one woman save the children before it's too late?

320 pages· 79,020 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 3,806 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina battles a rat infestation, a deadly beast, and her sinister stepfather. Determined to save the village's children, she plans to slay the Beast of Hamlin. Enter Steffan, a duke's son with a mysterious charm and a talent for music. As they join forces, Katerina must decide if she can trust him. Together, they face a perilous quest to stop the abductions, but their actions might unleash an even greater danger. Will they save Hamlin, or doom it to a darker fate?
Hide and Seeker
Sale price
$1797
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Hide and Seeker

By Daka Hermon

A game of Hide and Seek turns into a nightmare as players vanish into a dark world.

320 pages· 59,829 words· Est. 8.5 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 2,955 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Justin's best friend Zee vanished for a year, returning changed and secretive. At Zee's welcome home party, a game of Hide and Seek spirals into terror as players are marked and disappear into the Nowhere, a realm of living nightmares. With the monstrous Seeker hunting them, Justin and his friends must confront their deepest fears to escape or risk being lost forever. Can they unravel the mystery of Zee's disappearance and survive the horrors of the Nowhere?
The Strangers
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

The Strangers

By Margaret Peterson Haddix, Anne Lambelet (Illustrator) · Book #1 in the Greystone Secrets series

Three siblings discover kidnapped children with identical names and birthdays. Who are these strangers?

416 pages· 75,016 words· Est. 10.5 hour read
5.0/7 Bookroo·3.8/5 Goodreads · 13,062 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Chess, Emma, and Finn Greystone's lives are upended when they learn of three kidnapped children who share their names, ages, and birthdays. As their mother vanishes on a mysterious trip, the siblings are left with cryptic clues, leading them to hidden rooms and a perilous secret. Can they unravel the mystery before it's too late? What connects them to these strangers?
Incident at Hawk's Hill
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1971

Incident at Hawk's Hill

By Allan W. Eckert

A small boy vanishes into the prairie, surviving with a badger's help.

Newbery Honor (1972)
207 pages· 53,699 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 2,952 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 1870, six-year-old Ben, more at ease with animals than people, vanishes into the prairie near Hawk's Hill. As the community searches, Ben forms an unlikely bond with a female badger, learning to survive in the wild. Can this connection help him find his way back home, or will the prairie become his new world? Discover a tale of courage and transformation as Ben navigates the challenges of nature and solitude.
Blood Will Tell
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2015

Blood Will Tell

By April Henry · Book #2 in the Point Last Seen series

A teen becomes the prime suspect in a murder. Can his friends prove his innocence?

272 pages· 57,801 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 4,346 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Nick Walker, a teen fascinated by knives and video games, becomes the prime suspect in a Portland murder. His interest in Search and Rescue is twisted into evidence against him. As suspicion mounts, friends Alexis and Ruby race against time to uncover the truth and clear Nick's name. Can they unravel the mystery before it's too late, or will Nick's life be forever changed by a crime he didn't commit?
The Berenstain Bears and the Little Lost Cub
Sale price
$474
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2011

The Berenstain Bears and the Little Lost Cub

By Jan Berenstain, Mike Berenstain · Living Lights series

A lost cub teaches the value of good deeds and following a righteous path.

32 pages· 520 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
3.9 Goodreads · 138 ratings
$4.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Join the Berenstain Bears as they encounter a little lost cub in need of help. As they guide the cub back home, they learn valuable lessons about kindness and living by a moral example. Will their good deeds lead them to unexpected discoveries? Perfect for early readers, this heartwarming tale combines simple sentences with meaningful messages, encouraging young minds to explore the importance of compassion and integrity. Dive into this charming adventure and see how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
The Garden of Eve
Sale price
$1398
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2007

The Garden of Eve

By K. L. Going, K.L. Going

A cursed orchard, a mysterious seed, and a boy who claims to be dead. What secrets lie in Beaumont?

234 pages· 42,532 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 2,493 ratings
$14.95Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: In Beaumont, New York, Evie and her father face a cursed orchard that hasn't borne fruit in decades. Skeptical of fairy tales, Evie meets a boy who claims to be dead and receives a mysterious seed for her birthday. When the seed grows into a tree overnight, only Evie and the boy can see it and explore where it leads. As strange events unfold, Evie must confront the town's secrets and her own beliefs. Can she uncover the truth behind the curse and the boy's story?
The Third Eye
Sale price
$1498
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 1984

The Third Eye

By Lois Duncan

Visions reveal where stolen children sleep. Can Karen save them before time runs out?

287 pages· 59,349 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
3.9 Goodreads · 4,320 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
Paperback
Summary: Karen's visions reveal a hidden world where stolen children are trapped. A young policeman seeks her help, but time is running out. Can Karen unlock the mystery and bring the children home before it's too late? Every moment counts in this gripping thriller filled with suspense and unexpected twists.
Took (Graphic Novel)
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$2374
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Took (Graphic Novel)

By Mary Downing Hahn, Scott Peterson, Jen Vaughn (Illustrator), Hank Jones (Illustrator)

A sister vanishes into haunted woods. Can her brother save her from a ghostly witch's clutches?

160 pages· 11,143 words· Est. 2 hour read
3.6 Goodreads · 822 ratings
$24.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Daniel's new home borders eerie woods rumored to hide a ghostly witch and her beast. When his sister Erica disappears, Daniel must confront the chilling legends to rescue her. Are the tales true, or is something else at play? As he ventures into the dark forest, Daniel faces a terrifying mystery that could change everything. Will he find Erica before it's too late, or will the witch claim another victim? Dive into this spine-tingling graphic novel where every shadow hides a secret and every step could be Daniel's last.
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