SOLVED. YA book. Two sisters are kidnapped by two guys and held for ransom. One sister is 14 and named Amy? Read around 2014-2016. Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Liz]

I read this book in fifth grade (around 2014-2016) but I think it might have been above my grade level. It was about two sisters, one of whom was 14 and named Amy(?). They got kidnapped by two guys who took them to different locations in a car / van. The main premise of the story is that Amy(?) wrote a book of code at home and used those signals whenever the guys recorded her. For example, she would talk about the ransom but pull at her earlobe to indicate a certain other message. In the end of the story, she and her sister drive the car and crash it. That's pretty much all I remember; I hope this made sense wasn't too vague. :)

[Kris]

Elly, why are girls kidnapped? Who are their parents? Is Amy the older sister?

Where were they kidnapped? Location/ country?

I added some details to the header/ topic title. Feel free to edit it.

[Liz]

@Kris I actually don't remember a lot of that information. However, I believe I did end up finding the book. A book called "Stolen Children" by Peg Kehret seems to follow a similar plot to the one I described. I think I had some of the plot wrong: They were not sisters, Amy was the younger girl's babysitter. Also, apparently there was another babysitter involved too. I couldn't find the book at first, but I think remembering the protagonist's name made searching easier. Thank you for your response. :)

[Kris]

Stolen Children by Peg Kehret does sound like your book. Should we mark your request as Solved?

Kirkus Reviews: "Already feeling responsible for her father’s recent death, 14-year-old Amy takes a babysitting job for wealthy Mrs. Edgerton, and right off the bat she and her three-year-old charge Kendra are kidnapped. Taken to an abandoned cabin by two bumbling, small-time criminals, the girls are offered for ransom, but instead of sending notes, the kidnappers videotape the girls and send DVDs to the parents. However, Amy has the wherewithal to send coded messages in the tapes, and part of readers’ enjoyment is watching the filming and seeing if the parents can decode the messages. Kehret uses a third-person voice, allowing readers to follow the well-orchestrated actions of the various characters—kidnappers, hostages, parents, detectives, the nanny and other players who don’t even realize they are players. The story is fast-paced, plot-driven and involving, with comic relief provided by the captors’ fumbling machinations and little Kendra’s behavior. A sure hit for the intended audience."

Amazon: "After graduating from a babysitting course, 14-year-old Amy is filling in for a wealthy family’s nanny one afternoon when she and her three-year-old charge, Kendra, are kidnapped. Their two abductors have hatched a plan to take the little girl, send daily DVD messages to her parents, collect the ransom, and return her unharmed. They hit a snag, however, when their accomplice, Kendra’s nanny, takes off before the scheduled heist. Forced to take the unexpected Amy along, they head to a derelict secluded cabin, where they bide their time for several days. Amy’s ingenuity and child-development savvy save the day, but only after a few daring escape attempts. Plot-driven and consistently paced, this quick read has ample suspense and drama. While the bad guys have a gun, it is unused and no actual physical violence occurs, making this a worry-free recommendation for those requesting a just-thrilling-enough story. Grades 4-7."

[Liz]

@Kris Yes, that's definitely the book. This thread can be marked as solved. Thank you for your help. :)

[Kris]

Great. Glad you found your book, Elly.