The Lost Girl of Astor Street

Gr 7 Up—Eighteen-year-old Piper Sail, daughter of a well-to-do 1920s Chicago mobster attorney, isn't an average society girl, like her best friend, Lydia, who is always the perfect lady. Piper is surprised and concerned when Lydia shares her plans to proclaim her love for her quiet and mysterious family chauffeur, Matthew, and she grows even more concerned after Lydia disappears. Consumed with grief over the loss of her best friend, Piper vows to solve the mystery of her disappearance, even if it means resorting to some unconventional and risky investigative methods. Piper has never been one to swoon over boys, but she nonetheless finds herself falling for Det. Mariano Cassano as she searches for clues. As Piper matures and begins to understand her father's profession, she questions her judgment and the character of the handsome detective because of his family's relationship to her father. This coming-of-age tale describes the struggles of a child growing up without a mother to reinforce the behavior so expected of women at the time. It's also the story of a young woman experiencing loss and first love and learning to accept circumstances and people for what and who they really are. Morrill successfully captures the dark side of 1920s Chicago and the mobster mentality. Strong supportive characters add depth to the novel, and the author keeps readers guessing on multiple fronts.