Books About Missing Children

The Best Missing Children Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

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 Piper's Pursuit
Hide and Seeker
The Strangers
The Third Eye
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
4.2/5 Goodreads · 7,293 ratings
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
4.2/5 Goodreads · 3,758 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
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
4.0/5 Goodreads · 2,928 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
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) · 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 experts·3.8/5 Goodreads · 12,969 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
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?
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
4.0/5 Goodreads · 4,319 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
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 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
3.9/5 Goodreads · 4,312 ratings
$15.99Save 6%
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
3.6/5 Goodreads · 810 ratings
$24.99Save 5%
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.
Auto Body Parts
Sale price
$2342
Picture Book · Ages 9–13 · 2019

Auto Body Parts

By Michael Dahl, Euan Cook (Illustrator) · School Bus of Horrors series

A school bus collects more than students on its route, as a field trip reveals a terrifying secret beneath the floorboards.

36 pages· 924 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud
4.5/5 Goodreads · 4 ratings
$24.65Save 5%
Summary: On a peculiar bus ride, a girl hears cries from beneath her seat. Curiosity leads her to open a hatch, only to be seized by multiple hands. Are these disembodied limbs seeking rescue, or do they have a sinister purpose? As the bus hurtles toward an unknown destination, she must unravel the mystery before it's too late. What secrets lie beneath, and will she escape their grasp?
Finders Keepers
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025

Finders Keepers

By Jeff Strand · Book #3 in the Eek! series

A summer scavenger hunt turns terrifying when quitting is no longer an option.

192 pages· 29,199 words· Est. 4 hour read
3.8/5 Goodreads · 144 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Summary: In Farlow, a summer scavenger hunt lures twelve-year-old Maggie and her friends with the promise of a cash prize. But as the challenges grow darker, from school break-ins to cemetery visits, the game spirals into a nightmare. When the stakes escalate to retrieving a human head, the thrill turns to terror. Can Maggie escape the sinister game, or is it too late to quit?
The Snatcher of Raven Hollow
Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2023

The Snatcher of Raven Hollow

By Matt McMann · Monsterious series

A town plagued by baby kidnappings. Can two friends uncover the truth before it's too late?

208 pages· 23,402 words· Est. 3.5 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 109 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Summary: In a town haunted by mysterious baby kidnappings, Teo is determined to solve the mystery over summer break. She ropes in her reluctant friend Logan, and their investigation leads them to the eerie woods. As they encounter strange figures and chilling screams, Teo suspects a supernatural force at play. With another child missing, time is running out. Can Teo and Logan unravel the mystery and save the babies before it's too late?
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