Andrea M. Hutchinson's "Missing in Sydney" is a popular graded reader (often at an A2 level) that combines elements of mystery and friendship, designed to be accessible for English language learners.
Here's a summary of the
story:
The story follows three
best friends from the UK – Amy, Claire, and Lisa – who are on a
backpacking adventure across Australia before starting university. They've been
planning this trip for two years and are enjoying their time.
The central part of the
story takes place in Sydney, where the girls are celebrating Christmas
Day on Bondi Beach. Amidst the festive atmosphere and large crowds, an
argument occurs between Lisa and her two friends over a small sum of money Lisa
owes them. Lisa, feeling upset and angry, walks off to join another group of
friends at the party.
Later, when the party is
winding down, Amy and Claire wait for Lisa so they can return to their youth
hostel together. However, Lisa doesn't reappear. They assume she might have
gone back to the hostel on her own.
The next morning, their
concern grows when Lisa is still not in their room. They realize she left
without her phone or money, which is very unusual for her. Amy and Claire
become increasingly worried and decide to actively search for their missing
friend.
Their search takes them
around Sydney, visiting places they think Lisa might have gone, asking people
if they've seen her. They speak to a waitress at a beach bar who remembers
seeing Lisa talking to a man with black hair at the party.
As they frantically
search, Amy receives a distressing phone call from Lisa. Lisa is crying and
sounds scared, saying she needs help but doesn't know where she is. This
confirms their fears that Lisa is truly missing and likely in trouble.
The mystery deepens as Amy
and Claire desperately try to find their friend, eventually discovering that
Lisa and her kidnapper share a "chilling connection" – hinting at a
past relationship or some sort of history between them that explains why Lisa
was targeted.
The book focuses on the
suspense of the search, the bonds of friendship, and the efforts of Amy and
Claire to uncover the truth behind Lisa's disappearance in a foreign city.
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