The Rules for Disappearing

Written by Ashley Elston

Narrated by Alexa Elmy

Don't miss this unputdownable mystery from Ashley Elston, the New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins, a Reese's Book Club pick!

She's been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she's been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last.

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they've given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do-or see-that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all of the Suits' rules-and her dad's silence. If he won't help, it's time she got some answers for herself.

But Meg isn't counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who's too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there's only one rule that really matters-survival.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Jan 7, 2025
• ISBN: 9781668649121

Ashley Elston

Ashley Elston is the author of the million-copy-selling thriller First Lie Wins - a No. 1 New York Times bestseller and a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. She is the author of several young adult novels, including The Rules for Disappearing (a finalist in the Best Young Adult Novel category of the International Thriller Awards) and 10 Blind Dates. Her work has been translated into 23 languages. Ashley lives in Shreveport, Louisiana with her family.

Reviews for The Rules for Disappearing

[Sherrie Allard · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wish this had been labeled better. It was a decently written book with a decent story, but it was most certainly young adult. This was not a great read for an adult. The storyline was too simplistic and flawed. I think if you have a younger teenager. It would probably be a great book for them but as an adult not so much.

[ftbooklover · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Meg Jones and her family are in the Witness Protection Program because of something her father did, but nobody will tell Meg what he did. They have been placed 5 different times into different cities with different names. Meg's younger sister has started to shut down and her mother is drinking a lot. With this latest move, Meg vows to follow her plan to go unnoticed and not make any friends, but that plan is put to the test when she meets Ethan Landry and his sister Emma. Emma becomes a thorn in Meg's side, but Ethan interests Meg in a different way. Meg starts to believe she is being followed and is determined to find out what her father did, but all the while, she fears that her family will have to move again, and if that happens, Meg isn't sure she will survive it.

This story not only deals with the practical aspects of constantly moving, but also delves into the feelings of depression, anger, and loss that go along with this kind of life. In addition, there is a nifty mystery of what landed them into Witness Protection in the first place leading to some surprising answers. Overall, a well written story with lots of emotion.

[readingbeader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Quick and Dirty review:

Was annoyed when I went to get the cover picture ahead of finishing my review, to discover that there is a sequel

Not a cliffhanger ending; more like a bad horror movie, in that the bad guy isn't really gone

Moved quickly

My teens will like it better than I did

Some loose ends are not tied up, which sets up the sequel

I thought it was fairly easy to figure out who the " bad guy" was, but I don't understand how he was able to track things, perhaps that will be answered in the next book

Not sure if the bad guy is really bad, or just creepy.

Definitely on my to buy list for the HS

[khal_khaleesi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

(This review can be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).


When I first read about The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston, I knew I had to read this book. I was thrilled when I won an ARC copy from a blog giveaway. I was even happier that the book was even better then I thought it was going to be.

Thankfully, the book synopsis does an excellent job in describing what the book is going to be about. I'm super thankful because a lot of book blurbs these days tend to just give you the bare minimum of what the book will be about or something completely different. Anyway, since you've read above what the book is about, I won't try to tell you again since most people find it boring.

I absolutely love the title! It screams out at you to check this book out (okay, it did to me). The title is also what the chapter names are called. With each chapter, you also get a rule for disappearing, so this title is perfect!

Whilst I loved the title, I wasn't thrilled with the cover. I just felt that with what this books about and everything contained within the pages, the cover would've been better. Yes, I get that it's about up and leaving, but just showing a pair of legs running is a bit too bland. In fact, I wasn't going to bother with this book when I saw the cover, but I thought I'd give the book blurb a read which is what changed my mind. So please don't let the cover fool you into thinking this is a dull book because it's not.

I thought the world building was fantastic. I enjoyed reading about how it'd be living in the Witness Protection Program, and I must say, I'm glad that I never had to do something like that even if it would be cool to pick your own name. Elston gives us an up close and personal look into the life of someone who has to deal with this. I felt, at times, that it was me in the place of Meg. That's how real the world building felt. One thing that bothered me though was how trusting one of the adults was in this book. I won't go into details because I don't want to go into spoilers, but I just couldn't imagine any adult would let someone take off with hardly any questions asked.

The pacing was absolutely perfect! This whole book was one big page-turner. I kept telling myself I'd only read one more chapter and then get back to real life. Before I knew it, I'd finished the book. I had to know what was going to happen next. Not once does the pacing become dull.

The plot was fantastic! I'd never read a book that had to do with the Witness Protection Program. I loved the way the plot was written and the predicament of Meg getting close to Ethan. It was very interesting to read about everything and to see how things would play out. I did, however, predict who the baddie really was, and I was right. I had pretty much seen it coming since that character was mentioned, but the story was still interesting to read. I just wish the ending would've explained a bit more, but I've just read that there will be a sequel out next year so hopefully things will be explained more then.

I absolutely loved the characters! Meg was a very strong character throughout the whole book. The way she handled things was very interesting to read about. I liked how she was torn and how she'd rationalize things especially when it came to getting close to Ethan. I enjoyed how much Ethan was willing to put on the line to get close to Meg. He was a true gentleman, but not over the top like you get in cheesy romance novels. I loved his dedication to Meg. Teeny seemed to act like that of an 8 year child instead of an 11 year old girl. The book says she acts younger because of what she's been through with having to move house and change lives every so many weeks. I just didn't buy it. She acted too young almost all the time! While I did enjoy the character of Teeny, I just wish she would've acted her age a little more throughout the book. Pearl was definitely my favorite character, and while she isn't mentioned a lot, I still loved whenever she'd show up in the book. I loved her sweet nature and how she was willingly to help anyone out.

The interactions between the characters was very believable and never felt forced. Even the swearing never felt forced. The dialogue is very enjoyable, and I enjoyed it the most when Meg was forced with a problem. I loved reading about how she was going to solve it. Like I said, there is some bad language, but I'd say it's only moderate.

Overall, The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston is an interesting, refreshing read as well as a book that keeps you hooked until the very end.

I'd recommend this book to those aged 14 who just want a good book to read.

I'd give The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston a 4.5 out of 5.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Rules for Disappearing Whoa. I'm not sure how else to describe The Rules for Disappearing in just one word, except to start with that. Madeline, Olivia, Meg; call her what you will but our main character is definitely one strong female. Constantly shipped from place to place, sometimes without a moments notice, her life isn't easy. What Ashley Elston builds is a world where a family is on the run, and our main character can't remember why. All that matters is survival.

I have to say that I never really pondered how tough the Witness Protection program could be. I loved reading from Meg's perspective because she wasn't one to sugar coat anything. I met a girl who was so strong, that she would shun real life if it meant keeping her sister safe. A girl who has been so many different people in such a short amount of time, that she can't recall what parts of her are real anymore. Meg is real. She's raw. She's honest. That's what makes this such an amazing read.

It helps of course that we have a swoon-worthy male lead as well. Ethan Landry is the southern boy we all wish we had. Sweet, smart, and absolutely stubborn, I couldn't help but adore his character. What really impressed me was how Ashley Elston brings these two together. From the moment they meet, there is tension. How do you hide your past and still let someone else in? Watching Ethan and Meg dance around the truth is maddening and intriguing at the same time.

While Meg definitely made some decisions I didn't agree with, and I won't deny physically yelling at the book, everything weaves together into one fantastic story. There is the element of mystery surrounding Meg's situation, the tension filled romance with Ethan, and even a few funny moments. I all but devoured this book, and highly suggest you go and do the same.

[jrlibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed The Rules for Disappearing, but that has to be taken with this confession; I LOVE books involving people who have had to go into a Witness Protection program. I think it's because I just can't imagine leaving everything behind, and never making contact with anyone ever again.
Meg has been relocated with the rest of her family; her mom, dad and her sister, six different times, but this time she's decided that she will NOT get involved, join clubs or make friends because each time she leaves it's just too hard to leave everything behind. What she didn't count on was the persistent attention of a very attractive local boy name Ethan Landry.

[kristymk18-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

The Rules for Disappearing features teenage Witness Protected "Meg"who is trying to figure out exactly why her family needs protection, while attempting to navigate through the world of high school at her latest location. As the story unfolds we are slowly introduced to life in Witness Protection and how it affects Meg and her family. There is a mystery surrounding the reason behind their placement which causes frustration and tension between Meg, the "suits" (agents), and her parents. They are at their sixth location in less than a year and Meg vows to not get involved with anyone there. However, fellow student Ethan befriends her and soon inches his way into her life.

What I liked most about this book was how it concentrated on much more than just how this situation effected her social life. The multiple uprootings had many negative side effects to everyone in Meg's family and it is portrayed well throughout the novel.The mystery shrouding their relocation is revealed slowly and although the suspense level isn't high, it did keep your interest and make for an entertaining read.

[vanyadrum · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My review of this book is a courtesy to Netgalley.

I've always loved books/movies with stories about the witness protection program. I don't really know why, they just intrigue me. All the needs to change one's identity, getting to start over... new life, new place, that sort of thing.

That's why I really enjoyed TRFD. Although I could feel the numbness spreading as I read fake-name Meg's account of her life, I was still pretty intrigued by the whole process of up and just getting a whole new identity. As if your life before never was. Fascinating, isn't it?

So in general, I should say that this was a light, fast-paced read that, for a while, snuck me into the mind of our heroine, a.k.a. the girl with many names but just two faces. It was a truly captivating story, that held my attention from beginning to end.

I felt so incredibly sorry for Meg and especially for her little sister (who is at this point called Mary). Each move, each change of identity took its toll on them to the point that they could hardly remember who they really were anymore. Mary felt it especially bad, melting more and more on the inside, going deeper and deeper into her shell of depression.

I did NOT like the girls' mother at all. I mean, in this dreadfully difficult situation the family was in, all she could do was get herself drunk into oblivion. Gah, seriously? Is that really the best she could do? I was disgusted with that woman. Instead of trying to help her girls, she drowned in alcohol. Selfish, selfish, selfish!

The father impressed me though. He was trying really hard to keep the family going. It was difficult on him, being the only sane parent, but he did a decent job, so he definitely gets points for that.

Now the guy. Ethan Landry. I kept on thinking about laundry all the time his last name came up. Never mind. So Ethan. He's super nice, super handsome and super curious guy. Of course, he's also the only one to figure out the new girl (Meg) and her mysterious past. No insta-love here, but there was insta-attraction, which is totally not the same thing. Also, good news is that Ethan was actually worth all the praise he got in Meg's mind. He wasn't just some dumb jock that threw smart sarcastic comments. No. There was actually substance in him. I know girls would love him, I sure did!

So, to wrap it up, if you enjoy reading about stunningly good (but also light) mystery, relationships that actually matter and sweet romance, this will definitely keep you satisfied.

Oh, and just let me say that those rules that each chapter begins with are absolute killers. I laughed reading them!

[emmyson · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

*Many thanks to Disney Hyperion and NetGalley for providing a galley of this title*

I am not the world's biggest fan of contemporary fiction.

*gasp*

I know, I know...you never knew this about me. I like to keep some things close, you know. :P

Okay, so y'all knew that a long time ago.

I'm trying to branch out more and give contemporary books a better chance before dismissing the genre entirely. I'm glad I picked this one up. It was a fun read that left me guessing in some parts and had characters that I liked for the most part.

Let's start with characters.

Let me just get it out that once again, I didn't like the family dynamic going on here. I get that there are dysfunctional families, but does just about every YA contemp have to feature one? Please, please, may I beg for a functional family for a change?! I felt like Meg (it's easiest to just call her Meg) was really disrespectful at times towards her parents. Yeah, her mom has turned into a raging drunk and I get that it would be really hard to not only be in the Witness Protection Program and deal with a drunk mom at the same time, but could she please maybe try to see that things are really hard for her mom too? I'm not advocating becoming a raging drunk to try and solve problems, but yeesh. Look beyond your own lens once in awhile, Meg.

That was my biggest issue with Meg. I didn't like the way she interacted with her parents and was so dismissive of them. She acted a lot like she was the only one having a hard time with the placement, when in fact, it was tearing them all up.

I liked Ethan a lot. He was a fantastic male lead. He was a lot more patient than I think I would have been in his shoes. He was willing to help out, even when the personal risk was great. Plus, I like farm boys. I know this is shocking, considering that I don't like being outside, but there's something about a farm boy (especially an Idaho farm boy) that really gets me.

As far as the plot goes, I was engaged for most of the time. The only part that left me feeling cheated was the ending and the couple chapters leading up to it. What. The. Heck. It was an easy fix and one that didn't make any sense to me. No explanation at all. Okay, let's just pop in a deus ex machina, why don't we? I HATE that. In fact, it bothered me so much that if this was to turn into a series, I highly doubt I'd keep reading. Why bother, when I'm just going to get another way-too-convenient ending that doesn't make any sense and doesn't fit with the story very well at all?

Yeesh.

I'd have rated this book higher if not for that ending. Overall, it gets 2.5 Eiffel Towers.



Content Advisory
Language: Heavy
Sexuality: Mild
Violence: Moderate

[edspicer_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a mixture of both romance and mystery. I loved it so much I went out at midnight just to buy it. 5/5 AS (9th grade) I chose this book because the cover and the summary on the back caught my attention. AG

[rubewrites · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Slow starting, but once I got into it I couldn't put it down.

[brainannex · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

She is running. She's been running for a long time. The names, the cities, the schools. Sadly, I guessed some of the key problems about one-third of the way through so I wasn't as blown away by the ending but it's a good choice for a reader who likes a fair amount of mystery.

[68papyrus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Rules for Disappearing is a young adult suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I had been anxiously awaiting the release of this thriller and it did not disappoint!
" Meg Jones" and her family have been placed in the Witness Protection Program but she has no idea why. In the past 8 months they have been in 6 different placement and she has had 6 different aliases, however, when the family is placed in rural Louisiana she is determined to figure out why they are running and make this their last placement. When Meg meets a sweet and handsome southern boy named, Ethan Landry, it makes her plan to go unnoticed and make no friends quite a bit harder. This book was well written and had great pacing. If you like mystery and suspense I highly recommend this book. 4 stars!

[hrose2931 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Characters-
Meg- Meg is the older sister. She's hurting from all this running, being in witness protection. She's angry at her father. He won't tell her what he did to get them in this situation and it makes her more angry and withdrawn every time they have to move. Six moves in eight months. She has rules now about not getting attached to anyone. Not making friends. Closing herself off to people and keeping her story to herself. Her mother gets worse every day. And her little sister Mary is losing herself. Meg feels desperate to find out why they are in witness protection and to do something about it. I felt desperate right along with her, but I hated every time she pushed Ethan away or wouldn't go somewhere with someone that was trying to be friends with her. I understood her predicament. I could empathize with her, but I didn't want it for her or the people she pushed away. I did like how her character developed though I thought she could have trusted Ethan a little more a little sooner.

Ethan- Ethan is a cute boy. He isn't a hero or a bad boy, he's got a bit of country in him, but when you live in a small town in Louisiana you do what you can to have fun. He is immediately drawn to Meg, maybe because she is new, but there doesn't seem to be any other girl that is vying for his attention. He's sweet, he teaches Mary how to make pizzas in the back of Pearl's where Meg worked. He takes the time to try to figure Meg out. He searches her out at school. He goes out of his way to take Meg and Mary to school and starts to bring Mary out of her shell so that she's more like herself, the person she was before all this happened.

There were so many secondary characters, nicely layered Mary probably had the most back story as the little sister, sharing this terrible journey with Meg. But where Meg was the protector, Mary reminded Meg of having fun, of what it was like to be a kid again. Mary reminded Meg to enjoy whatever there was to live for while they could. Mom was a fall out on the floor alcoholic and Dad was an angry, stoic bury his head in the sand figure. I think he was trying to make a deal with someone but I could never really figure that part of the story out.

The world-
Natchitoches, Louisiana. It is described as a small town with a quaint downtown, historic homes, cobblestone streets. Farms further out. A lot of the story takes place at the high school, the pizza shop, Ethan's father's farm or the little bungalows that Meg's family is living in. It's in a rather run down part of town. Her father works in a factory, her mother is too drunk to do anything. And Meg works every day with Mary coming to work with her. It's winter close to Mardi Gras.

The Story-
Of course it's the story about a family in Witness Protection. But it's really about the effects of it on one girl and how she is determined to get out of it. I honestly was expecting a lighter story. But this is not a light story. Ethan catches Meg in a lie the second day of school and she finds herself trying to keep ahead of him most of the time. Meg constantly feels like she's being followed. She has several close calls when the lights go out or her belongings seem to have been gone through but nothing taken. One agent always seems to be right on her tail every time she turns around. And then she finds out the reason they are in Witness Protection. And it's nothing like she thought. And she is even more determined to fix things and get her family out of it. But her planning skills leave a lot to be desired and she has no money to get where she needs to go. And then, her mother gets worse. And it's all down hill from there. I honestly saw no way out of this for her. I figured this would be a series the way this was going. Meg is definitely a determined girl. She doesn't want to keep anyone close to her because anyone that knows anything is in danger. And yet, she can't help her family without a little help on her own. She really tries her best not to get involved with anyone, but she's a senior in high school, halfway through the year. I felt her aching for friends. Her need to fit in. But yet she's not even thinking about that, she's got this huge thing hanging over her head.

I thought the story was really well written, the creepy parts with Meg feeling like she was being followed had me creeped out, too. I was scared right along with her. The twists and turns in the novel will definitely keep you guessing right to the very last page. I wasn't expecting that ending, not the last page. But then again, it wasn't unexpected. The story is fast paced and will have you flipping pages almost faster than you can read them. I loved this novel for the suspense, the romance, the sisterly bond, and the mystery.

I received an e-ARC of this novel from Disney-Hyperion through Net-Galley for review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way.

[janarose1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Meg and her family are part of the Witness Protection Program. On their sixth placement, the family is worn down and exhausted. Determined to lay low, Meg's plan is shattered when she meets charismatic Ethan Landry. With her father refusing to answer her questions, Meg finds herself more and more frustrated with the entire situation. Until she begins regaining her memory.

Overall, I thought this was a good book. Its characters were interesting and the plot moved at a good pace. I would have liked to know more about Meg's sister, specifically why she was so withdrawn and childlike. Otherwise, I thought the book was well done. Overall, highly recommended

[bookwormdreams · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As soon as I found out The Rules for Disappearing is about a Witness Protection program, I wanted to read it. I can not recall if I ever read a book that covers that subject and I thought that it was an opportunity for some great character development. When I started reading The Rules for Disappearing, very soon it was clear to me that I was right.

The story is narrated by 17-year-old Meg who talks to us about problems and experiences that her family encounters while being 'protected witnesses'. The strain and tension of constant moves, names changes, crappy living condition and tension of expecting an unknown trial date has taken it's toll on everyone. Her father, mother and young sister are all just shadows of their lovable perky past personalities. So what to do when you are moved to yet another strange town? The best is to keep everyone away and do not get involved. Meg learned that the hard way. But keeping people away is not so easy as it looks. I loved Meg's inner struggle, her monologues and thoughts, she sounded like real teenage girl.

Additional charm to the story is added with cute rules for disappearing that are written at the beginning of each chapter. They contain some lessons Meg had to learn the hard way and sometimes hints what is going to happen. If I am ever enlisted into the Witness Protection, those are going to come in handy.
RULES FOR DISAPPEARING BY WITNESS PROTECTION PRISONER #18A7R04M: Only use public transportation. It's the one true way to look completely uninteresting. That is, unless, you have a hideous wood-paneled station wagon. That'll work, too.

Compared to strong family and personal drama both mystery and romance in The Rules for Disappearing seem secondary and somehow lacking. The final twist and bad guy are too predictable. The love story happens too fast and jumps from instant attraction into dreaded territory of insta-love. In fact, the whole second part of this book when romance starts to really grow and develop and mystery to unravel seems a little bit too easy and unbelievable. More like a Hollywood movie than a realistic life story. Because, where else will you see a teenage girl without any weapons and combat training go on a quest against bad guys? Only in movies. And even there it's usually some tough guy like Jason Statham or Liam Neeson.

Despite these flaws, I think that The Rules for Disappearing is going to find a wide range of fans in both lovers of realistic contemporary young adult fiction or fans of fluffy romantic suspense novels, if they do not set their expectations too high.

Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

[brandileigh2003 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved this premise, and The Rules for Disappearing definitely delivered. It packed a lot of emotion that I wouldn't have necessarily expected. I connected with Meg, she was smart, and loyal to her family in a big way. I also loved her snark. She is by no means perfect because she has low self esteem at times (another reason I connected for her and cheered for her.)
The moving around from being in the witness protection program has taken a huge stress on her family, and Meg had to step up in ways that no teenager ever should. Taking responsibility for her little sister like she did told me so much about her character. I loved them both and hurt for everything they saw with their mom, the fear that they lived in, and I melted a bit at how deep their love for each other is.
The way that the first couple pages set it up is that there would be a love triangle, and honestly, I hope that it wouldn't turn out that way. And luckily it ended up being a one man show, and I was so thankful for that.
I really liked Ethan, but was frustrated for Meg's benefit at how perceptive and intuitive he was. He is quirky, witty, and has such a kind heart. I loved the romance, that they bantered, flirted, and that although they were attracted to one another, things built more slowly.
The mystery was great. It kept me on my toes, and the things that I thought would happen had a twist to it and then went in a new direction.
Oh, and the chapter headings are cute and funny.
The story itself wraps up pretty well, but the epilogue definitely leaves room for many more questions and has me eager for the next book.

Bottom Line: Beautifully executed premise with an emotional punch.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING was an excellent mystery/thriller. The main character who had just been renamed Meg Jones by the Witness Protection Program and relocated to Natchitoches, Louisiana is a wonderful, well-rounded character. She and her family have been moved around a lot by Witness Protection and it has done great harm to their family. Meg's mom has turned to alcohol and her younger sister Teeny has become fearful and clingy. Meg herself is plagued by nightmares. She has determined that this time she won't make friends or get involved because it hurts too much to leave them behind when they are relocated.

Ethan Landry doesn't fit into her plans though. She first meets him in the school office where he is bruised from fighting. He keeps making approaches to Meg through all her various rebuffs. When Meg gets an after-school job at a pizza place, she is surprised to learn that his aunt owns it. But constantly running into Ethan there and at school, has Ethan growing on her. He is a great character -- honest, caring, cute and persistent.

Meg has been blaming her father for the disruption in the family's life and keeps asking him what he did or knows that caused them to enter the Witness Protection Program. It is only gradually that the memories come back to her of what she saw and she learns that she is the one who is in danger because she saw a man kill a family friend and the boy she had a crush on. The killer saw her too but let her live when she said she knew the whereabouts of some ledgers that he wanted.

Now, in order to get the killer off their trail, Meg hatches a plan to go back to Arizona to recover the ledgers. Her plan was to go alone but Ethan convinces her to let him come along. Not only are they trying to stay ahead of the criminals who want Meg dead but the US Marshal's Service too.

This story was an exciting thriller and a really nice romance too. I liked the twists and turns. Young adult thriller fans will like this one too.

[realbkshlvs918 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Elston's debut novel is must read. It is packed full of mystery, romance and danger. And who can resist a story about a teenager in Witness Protection ? I've always wondered what Witness Protection would be like--not that I want to join the program anytime soon. The Rules for Disappearing gives you an inside look and doesn't gloss over the hardships that Protection costs families. I was immediately whisked away to Louisiana with Meg and still can't get her, Ethan and Teeny out of mind. Disappearing really is a page turner. I'm looking forward to adding to Room 918's bookshelves in May.