Finding Lost

Sloan, Holly Goldberg. Finding Lost

October 7, 2025 by Rocky Pond Books

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Cordy Jenkins lives with her mother, Casey, and brother Geno in Florence, Oregon, a small coastal town. Her father had been a commercial crab fisherman, but died in a boating accident. Casey had been in school training to be a nurse, but after the accident had to take a job at Curly's Seafood to make ends meet. In order to save money, she is also the caretaker for the McKearn's "Big House". She doesn't get paid, but the family can live in the boat house and doesn't have to pay for utilities. Cordy attends Siuslaw Middle School with her best friend Button, but it's hard to connect with other classmates while dealing with her grief over her father and her family's straitened circumstances. One bright spot is finding a small stray dog named Lost that her mother reluctantly lets her keep. Cordy's afraid of the water, but when Lost runs off, she sees a pink dolphin in the river. Intrigued, she visits the library and borrows a few books from Mrs. Hunt, who also gives Cordy her own backpack (claiming it is from the lost and found), after Cordy mentions her own has broken, and she's upset at having briefly lost Geno. Geno has been at a presentation about community resources, and finds that there is a free veterinary clinic. Cordy's mother can't get off work to take Lost, but lets Cordy skip school to go. The vet, Dr. Taj Mazari, is very nice, and tells Cordy and Casey that Lost needs expensive dental extractions, but they could be pro bono if they can bring Lost to the university where he teachers. Cordy wants to hate Dr. Mazari when he and Casey seem to have a good time talking to each other, but she is able to accept the relationship after talking to an elderly neighbor who tells her that her mother deserves some happiness. When her friend Button moves to California, Cordy is devastated, but there is a bright side to life when the McKearns want to sell the Big House, and Cordy's mom and Dr. Mazari buy it together, and Casey goes back to nursing school. 

Strengths: There is an interesting author's note that this book was inspired in part by the death of two people on a crabbing boat. This was very atmospheric, and spending time in Florence, Oregon was interesting. I wanted a nice bowl of soup (maybe not clam chowder) at Curly's, because I felt cold all the time I was reading this. Lost is an engaging dog, and it's very realistic that he needed dental work, which is freakishly expensive. It was good to see that the Jenkins have a few people who are helping them, like Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Crowley. The romance between Casey and Dr. Mazari is nice, and Cordy has age appropriate mixed emotions. 
Weaknesses: This ends rather abruptly; I knew that Casey and Dr. Mazari would end up together, but it happened rather suddenly. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed King's Benny on the Case, which involves a seafront village, or Fusco's The Secrets of Honeycake, which had a similar sad feel to it. -