The Museum of Lost and Found

The Museum of Lost and Found

by Leila Sales and Jacqueline Li

Publication date: May 16, 2023

My review: 3.75 out of 5 stars 

A warm, relatable middle-grade story about a friendship falling apart and the abandoned museum that becomes a shrine to lost connections

Vanessa isn't sure which happened first: finding the abandoned museum or losing her best friend Bailey. She doesn't know what to do with herself now that Bailey has left her behind—but when she stumbles upon an empty, forgotten museum, her purpose becomes clear. Vanessa starts filling the museum with her own artifacts and memories, hoping that perhaps, if she can find the right way to tell the story of her broken friendship, she can figure out how to make it whole again.

As Vanessa's museum grows, it seems like the place might have the answers to other questions, too. Like why a mysterious work of art was left behind. Or how to deal with a military dad who's trying to parent from thousands of miles away. Or why Vanessa's bad habit is getting harder and harder to quit. Or even, maybe, how to set the past to rest and find a way to move forward.

Moving and charming, The Museum of Lost and Found is about how we grow apart from some people as we grow up—and how sometimes we can find new pieces of ourselves in the aftermath.

While I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for my review, all opinions remain my own. Thank you Netgalley and ABRAMS Kids for the opportunity to read this story.

I've read other "museum" books, so I thought I knew what I was getting into, but this one was different. Vanessa finds an abandoned museum and starts using it to showcase her own collection, a collection of the former best-friendship she shared with Bailey. As these things often do, her secret didn't stay secret and her brother and then others found out. The Museum of lost and found is born. That is until the real demolition is scheduled.

The ending of this story was a good one for me. I love how the museum memory lives on in the lives of the children. Neighborhood kids creating their own museum "exhibits" to share with each other. Parts of this book were really emotional and touching for me. Remembering what it was like to be in middle school and the strength of those friendships and all the feelings. The author did an amazing job capturing that.