Books About Missing Children

The Best Missing Children Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

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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.

Hide and Seeker
#1 in Series
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Missing Children

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 · 7,299 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?
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2019

The Piper's Pursuit

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 · 3,772 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?
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Hide and Seeker

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 · 2,937 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?
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

The Strangers

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 · 12,990 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?
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 · 4,327 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?
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2011

The Berenstain Bears and the Little Lost Cub

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

32 pages· 520 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
3.9/5 Goodreads · 136 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.
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 1984

The Third Eye

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 · 4,313 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.
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 · 813 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.
Picture Book · Ages 9–13 · 2019

Auto Body Parts

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%
Library Binding
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?
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 · 146 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
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?
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