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Check out this story in Publishers Weekly about how April found the real stolen girl.

April's essay about tracking down the real stolen girl.

Named a YALSA Quick Pick

Named to the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults list

Finalist for Oregon Book Award

Finalist for Maryland's Black-Eyed Susan award

Finalist for New Hampshire's Isinglass Teen Read award

Finalist for Nebraska's Golden Sower award

Finalist for Missouri's Truman award

Chosen for St. Louis Book Battle

Chosen for One Book, One Community in Olney, Illinois

Chosen as a Cafe Book in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Stafford schools and the Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Virigina

ALAN Pick [Assembly on Literature for Adolescents]

Rights sold in the United Kingdom

Rights sold in Germany

Great book for reluctant readers: Grade Level Equivalent: 4.7, Lexile measure: 700L, DRA: 70

"Sixteen-year-old Cheyenne, waiting in the car outside the pharmacy, has pneumonia, and she just wants her stepmother to come out with her meds and drive her home. Unfortunately, Griffin, who gets in the car thinks he is stealing an unattended vehicle, doesn't see the passenger curled up in the back seat until it is too late. The two teens, both shocked at the turn of events, end up at Griffin's home, where his father, upon realizing that Cheyenne is the daughter of an extraordinarily wealthy man, turns this error into a ransom opportunity. Cheyenne, slowed by her illness, is nevertheless constantly calculating ways she can get Griffin, the only decent person out in the wilderness where she is being kept, on her side in order to escape from a situation that is unlikely to end well. Henry ably presents Cheyenne's blindness as an aspect that is no more relevant than, for example, her pneumonia as an obstacle in her current horrific situation. She willingly shares details of her blindness with Griffin, first as a manipulation tool and then as part of the shaky bond they form, but otherwise, she simply focuses on escape, using her wits, daring, and strong will to get her home. The pace is impeccable, becoming rapidly more frantic as Cheyenne realizes her chances for success are dwindling. In addition, the premise itself is powerfully realistic and compelling, with one small incident (Griffin's jumping into a car that had the keys in the ignition) snowballing into a nightmare series of events that will change everyone. Readers will likely recognize such pivotal - but hopefully far less dramatic - moments in their own lives."
- Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

"While waiting in the car for her stepmother, 16-year-old Cheyenne is accidentally kidnapped by Griffin, a hard-edged teenager who steals the family's Escalade. She is blind, and while this makes her less of a concern for Griffin , his father, and their crew of thugs (who steal cars, replace the VIN numbers, and resell them), an escape is all but impossible ("She no longer knew anything about the world. All she knew about was herself. Her world had shrunk to the edges of her skin"). Cheyenne's disability grants her unexpected strengths; she learns to use her blindness and a case of pneumonia to her advantage, manipulating Griffin into sympathizing with her. When the men discover that Cheyenne's father is the president of Nike, they begin negotiating a ransom, but the question remains: can she trust Griffin to let her go? Henry (Torched) spins a captivating tale that shifts between Cheyenne's and Griffin's thoughts. Both are well-built, complex characters, trapped in their own ways by life's circumstances, which--paired with a relentlessly fast pace--ensures a tense read."
- Publisher's Weekly

"The novel is a nail-biter with an unforgettable protagonist who smartly and bravely turns her weakness, and her captors' underestimation of her capabilities, into an advantage. Henry illuminates the teen's predicament using all of her intact senses, making every touch, sniff, and breath palpable. Cheyenne's growing sympathy for Griffin, who becomes her protector, adds layers of complexity to this thriller, especially when she faces leaving him injured in the woods or slowing her own escape by saving him. Readers will be hard-pressed to put this one down before its heart-pounding conclusion."
- School Library Journal

"In April Henry's suspenseful and well-researched Girl, Stolen, 16-year-old Cheyenne Wilder, resting in the backseat while her stepmother runs into the pharmacy to pick up her prescription, is not only suffering from pneumonia, but has been blind for the last three years. Is escape even possible for her? The spine-tingling chapters alternate between the teens' perspectives as Griffin delivers both the vehicle and the girl to his cruel father, Roy. While Cheyenne plots to outwit her captors, flee Roy's home in a remote wooded area and gather as much information as possible to turn over to police when (or if) she's rescued, readers learn more about the accident that took Cheyenne's mother and sight. And as Griffin, a high-school dropout with a troubled background and grief of his own, begins to see his surroundings in a whole new light, he wonders if he's as much a bad guy as Roy and his accomplices, who are busy plotting how to use and dispose of Cheyenne. Perhaps Cheyenne is not the only victim in this escalating dilemma. Reminiscent of Gail Giles' thrillers and tension-filled to the last sentence, Girl, Stolen will resonate with readers long after the cover is closed. With a thoughtful and eye-opening look at disabilities, it highlights Cheyenne and Griffin's resourcefulness and resiliency as they save themselves - and possibly each other."
- Bookpage

"Be ready to be startled and inspired as the story reaches its climax. Readers will race to the end."
- Suspense magazine

"A survival story with a unique twist” that offers readers "the page turning suspense of a kidnapping story, all the while imagining what it would be like to be held captive when you can’t see.” ... "The “sympathetic bond that forms between Griffin and Cheyenne adds a layer of moral and emotional complexity.”
- Read Write Think, a collaboration between the International Readers Association and the National Council of Teachers of English

"The book successfully stays what it intends to be -- a page-turner, and Henry isn't afraid to realistically threaten her characters, kill them off and even gray-scale their personalities and actions. But more importantly, the reader is present at that perfect moment when a boy chooses completely opposite of his father even though he knows that will mean the end of life as he understands it. And for a lot of still more important reasons, for both female and male readers, this book allows the title girl to unapologetically be her own rescuer -- because she's smart, strong and collected.

"A good young adult book encourages readers to expect better of themselves and of others. The target readers are young enough; their learning that lesson might still make a difference. When Cheyenne explains what it's like to be blind in a seeing society, as she has been for three years, she's also talking about teenagers in an adult world: "Blind people knew how to do things without giving themselves away. Their hands could work in the dark, like moles, blindly tunneling but always getting where they needed to go. Blind people could look like they were paying attention to you when they were really paying attention to something else.""
– The Oregonian

"16-year-old Cheyenne is sick with pneumonia. Badder: while her mother runs into the pharmacy, a young man steals the car, not realizing that Cheyenne is in the backseat. Worst: getting out of this situation is going to be even harder than expected, because Cheyenne is blind. This constant one-upping of the threat level is what gives Henry’s thriller its hurtling, downhill velocity.... [T]he relationship between Cheyenne and the only kidnapper who is kind to her, a teen named Griffin , constitutes the novel's central push and pull. Is there a genuine understanding and affection brewing between these two damaged teens? Or is this a case of Stockholm syndrome? Henry is particularly deft at portraying the vacillating level of trust between the two, and her research on living with
blindness pays dividends in authenticity. ... thoroughly exciting.
- Booklist

"Girl Stolen by April Henry grabs your attention with the first page you read. The heroine's innocent helplessness adds to the suspense. Upon learning of Cheyenne's blindness, readers will become engrossed by her challenging situation. As the pages of the book are eagerly turned, one discovers a series of twists and turns. Each page holds new questions that are answered in the most unexpected ways. This book is a well-crafted suspense story."
- VOYA, Angelina Barnard, Teen Reviewer

"A simple trip to the pharmacy turns Cheyenne Wilder's life around. She is not feeling well and begs her stepmom to let her sleep in the back seat. It is warm and cozy, except for the fact the car is unlocked and the keys are in the ignition. Along comes Griffin, a small-time teen criminal. He steals the car, unaware that he has a passenger. Once Griffin discovers Cheyenne, he delivers her to the clutches of his greedy father and low-life associates. This crime thriller has several suspenseful twists. One is that Cheyenne is blind. How can she escape or identify her captors? She is being held in a remote wooded area and no longer has her cane or guide dog—she must utilize her sightless survivor skills. Another twist begins with Griffin's dad, Roy. At first Roy is upset the accidentally kidnapped girl was brought home. From this simple chop-shop crime story, the plot evolves into a kidnapping scheme. With a $5 million price tag on Cheyenne's head, the reader wonders if she will survive this harrowing ordeal. Who will come to her rescue? This novel is a worthy public and school library purchase featuring a brave visually-disabled female and a kindly, courteous male hero. It is not only a page-turning suspense, but this roller coaster read also reminds the teen reader that every action causes a reaction. Moreover, the author proves that brain power and kindness can triumph over brawn and brutality."
- Starred review (5Q), VOYA, Madelene Rathbun

"This can't-put-it-down crime thriller unfolds through the viewpoints of both victim and criminal. Sixteen-year-old Cheyenne, blinded in an accident that killed her mother three years earlier, has pneumonia. As she sleeps in the back of her stepmother's car, Griffin steals it, inadvertently kidnapping her. Once Griffin 's car-thief father learns she's wealthy, he decides to demand ransom. When the hapless Griffin realizes his dad and cronies will kill the girl to protect their identities, he tries to protect her. Clearly, the author did extensive research on blindness and its challenges. Her realistic depiction of the coping strategies and the strengths developed by the blind greatly enhances the novel, lifting it above the level of a mere escapist thriller. Characterizations make an impact, with both Cheyenne and Griffin becoming quite appealing; much suspense revolves around Griffin 's divided loyalties. The slightly ambiguous ending highlights Cheyenne 's ambivalent feelings toward Griffin . Although Cheyenne 's multiple problems might feel overdone in less skilled hands, Henry handles them deftly and makes her choices work. Constantly interesting and suspenseful."
- Kirkus

"This is a great page turner for teens. Learning to deal with adversity is a theme that runs through the story and readers will be talking about the choices the characters make and the consequences involved."
- Children's Literature

"Cheyenne’s character is an unforgettable one, not only because of her blindness, but because of her incredible resourcefulness. The book is an engaging and revealing suspense story. Henry shares with readers a world of which most of us are completely unaware - that of the blind. The character responds that becoming blind changes not only one’s sight, but also how one is seen. With a degree of humor, Cheyenne describes people treating her as invisible or even deaf when she is present, how phones and computers are her great equalizers, and how so many people treat her working dog as a pet. Upon completing the book, one might feel a little guilty about committing some of the described errors but also appreciative of the new light shed by the resourceful protagonist."
- ALAN [Assembly on Literature for Adolescents]

"The jacket art for this fast-paced teen novel is compelling and will draw readers into a story about a girl who takes control of her destiny in spite of illness, disability, and fear. Filled with tension, drama, and spirit, Cheyenne's character stands out for her abilities instead of her disability and Henry does a great job helping the reader get inside the head of a blind girl who is clearly going to survive against the odds."
- Parentwise Austin

“Quick-paced tension makes this a great choice for young adults seeking a riveting mystery.”
- Eugene Register Guard

"Author April Henry has created quite a thriller guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats. GIRL, STOLEN is filled with plenty of excitement and suspense. There is the obvious complication of Cheyenne's blindness and the added difficulty of her physical illness and her immediate need for antibiotics. Those problems alone would be enough for most authors, but Henry adds other creative plot twists that will keep readers on their toes. GIRL, STOLEN is a must-read for action and adventure fans."
– Teens Read Too

"April Henry's Girl Stolen is page-turning suspense with a clever heroine who meets up with bad luck, bad men, a bad dog, bad weather, bad health, and has to face them without seeing them. A nail biter."
- Gail Giles, best-selling author of Whatever Happened to Cass McBride

"A unique and clever premise. Cheyenne has to be one of the most resourceful heroines in recent memory."
- Todd Strasser, the best-selling author of Wish You Were Dead

"I enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful and really interesting. A lot of the things that Cheyenne dealt with in being blind were really surprising. I never knew or even thought about how those who are blind might be treated or how they navigated in a world where most everyone else sees. And though Griffin's the kidnapper, he's not just the bad guy. He has depth and character."
- What's Been Reading Me blog

"I was hooked within the first chapter; the chapter is only three pages long. Cheyenne is a sixteen year old girl accidently kidnapped as she was resting in the back seat of her stepmom's car. Once the car thief, Griffin, discovers she is back there, he feels he must take her home because she knows too much already, even if she is blind. Cheyenne is a very independent teen even after becoming blind just a few years earlier. She's a strong character who doesn't just cower in a corner waiting to be rescued. Girl Stolen is a can't-put-down book full of suspense from start to finish. Reluctant readers will enjoy this book as well. It is a must for any library collection. (My 12 year-old-daughter was also hooked in the first few pages and could not put it down.)"
- Michelle Levy, School Library Media Specialist, Eton Academy