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Abigail Reed and her younger sister, Becky, are always at each other's throats. Their mother calls them the September Sisters, because their birthdays are only a day apart, and pretends that they're best friends. But really, they delight in making each other miserable. Then Becky disappears in the middle of the night, and a torn gold chain with a sapphire heart charm is the only clue to the mystery of her kidnapping. Abby struggles to cope with her own feelings of guilt and loss as she tries to keep her family together. When her world is at its bleakest, Abby meets a new neighbor, Tommy, who is dealing with his own loss, and the two of them discover that love can bloom, even when it's surrounded by thorns.

This exquisitely written first novel illustrates life as it truly is--filled with fear and danger, hope and love, comfort and uncertainty.

“In her memorable debut novel, Cantor follows a family so devastated by the disappearance of a daughter that it never fully recovers. . . Abby’s memories of her sister and her wide range of emotions . . . make the story startlingly real.” – Publishers Weekly

“Abby’s voice, resigned and mildly plaintive, rings true, as does the author’s depiction of a family beset by the kind of grief a kidnapping might bring.” – School Library Journal

“First novelist Cantor records the days, months, and years of Becky’s always present absence with meticulous honesty, giving Abby exactly the right blend of painful emotions.... Cantor’s unflinching sensitivity makes the novel much more than tabloid voyeurism: a painful yet ultimately hopeful meditation on sisterhood and survival.” — Children’s Literature

“Cantor’s impressive debut is a beautiful and heartfelt novel that will appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen, and should not be missed.” – The Compulsive Reader

“With echoes of The Lovely Bones and even To Kill A Mockingbird, Cantor unflinchingly explores loss through its many incarnations.” – Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN)

“Jillian Cantor’s debut novel, was truly unforgettable, with the perfect mixture of realism, great character development, and plot.” – Teens Read Too

“This is not just another missing-persons mystery, but a touching, beautiful story about one girl’s struggle to find love in the rubble left by a whirlwind of unimaginable events. The September Sisters is both tragic and sweet, captured perfectly with Cantor’s striking voice.” – BookKids

“The September Sisters is a uniquely woven story of love and loss. You should definitely add this one to your wish list. I can’t wait to read more of Cantor in the future.” – The Story Siren

“. . .a very powerful and emotional read.”
– YA Book Nerd

“I could not stop reading Abby’s story. . .a memorable debut novel by Jillian Cantor that is incredibly moving, and a novel to certainly make you feel.” – YA Fresh

“I found The September Sisters to be a terrific book! While I definitely can say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, this story also touched me deeply.” – Booking Mama

“. . .there is a visceral feel to Abigail’s observations and her need to find a solution to an unbearably awful event . . .” — Kirkus Reviews

“. . .what will hold readers, along with the suspense of the whodunit, is the honesty of the sibling story.” — Booklist