A captivating adventure where a young Michael has to face all his fears, anxiousness and bullying to uncover the truth of mysterious Spinney Wood and the case of the missing children. Michael is a very believable and realistic character, someone who struggles to cope with the pressures of the classroom and things going on at home. Will Michael default to being "Mole" or will he rise above everything and respond like the more dynamic "Jack Flash" in order to cope with his big challenge? Slow building mystery that crosses time to reach an exciting and enchanting finale. Both myself and my 10 year old loved this book, and we can't wait for Paul Harris's next book! ( )

4 out of 5 stars
Missing Presumed Missing is a great read full of action and adventure.
I really loved the main character, Michael, who was so well fleshed out and had great depth which made this story even more enjoyable. It was great to read about a character who suffered with anxiety, especially in a book aimed at younger readers too – I thought this was great to spread awareness for young children about mental health.
It also explored bullying and I think this book is very educational and sensitive about the struggles of mental health young people face today. I really loved how the character of Michael grew throughout the story and how he made friends and that after a difficult experience, he came out stronger. It was encouraging and will no doubt be inspiring for younger readers.
I really loved how the past was tied in and I loved how the sense of danger and suspense was created. The mystery was unravelled at a great pace that kept you engaged throughout. It even delves into some fantasy elements too which made this even more exciting.
It was well-written, and I really loved that many children will be able to relate to the great mix of unique characters and that they will also be tied to the story, and want to keep on reading. I really loved this story and the messages of courage and strength throughout and I think many others will too.

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Michael is an anxious twelve year old. He is bullied at school and has a difficult relationship with his parents. He worries about anything and everything. One day he takes a shortcut through the Spinney Wood and ends up in a mysterious parallel world. Spinney Wood holds a plethora of dark secrets: most notably the unexplained disappearance of many children over the years. Little does he know that this will be the beginning of a great adventure. Jonty, the biggest bully in school, is missing and only Michael knows where he is. He doesn't know what to do and he can't tell his parents. With the help of his new friends, Melanie and Ben, Michael returns to Spinney Wood in hopes of rescuing Jonty and discovering the truth. Will Spinney Wood's darkest secrets finally be revealed?

Thank you to the author Paul Harris for this book. I found Missing Presumed Missing an enjoyable story. I did think the age that this book is aimed was a little older than what was reflected by the writing in the book, but that is no criticism. I felt that the characters would be relatable and would enjoy the adventures the characters find themselves on. I liked how the author brought in all the worries such as low self-esteem, bullying, difficulties in fitting in , I felt whilst reading that any pre-teen reading this novel would really enjoy the story and be able to relate as well. This story is a pretty slow burn but once it gets going the adventure unravels.

I am not sure about this book.
On one hand, I really loved the emphasis on anxiety and mental wellbeing, something that is often overlooked in middle grade. The characters were sympathetic enough, and I am sure tweens will agree. On the other hand, the story itself felt a little rocky. It had a slow start and middle and an explosive ending. To me, as adult reader, that did not matter much, but I am not sure the intended audience will have the patience to keep on reading. ( )