The Den

This latest from Maxwell (Lake People) concerns sisters—in fact, two pairs of sisters from two different eras. The main focus is on contemporary siblings Jane, the quiet younger sister, and older, bolder Henrietta. Jane is content with her books and stories, while teenage Henrietta likes boys, specifically Kaus, and wants more than a life in the New England woods. When new neighbors move to the area, Jane's and Henrietta's paths diverge, and their insular family life fractures completely when Henrietta vanishes. The titular den is both playground and hideaway for the sisters and is all that remains of a house owned by early Scottish settlers who mysteriously disappeared. The novel includes a short section about the settlers during the 19th century, including Elspeth, who left her sister Claire behind in the Old World.