Book record · Former Barking Rain Press title
The Girl Who Flew Away
by Val Muller
When freshman Steffie Brenner's new neighbor vanishes in the woods, her older sister pressures her to keep quiet. Val Muller's young adult novel about secrets, sisters and addiction was published by Barking Rain Press in 2017.
This book was once published by Barking Rain Press, which announced its closure in 2019. This site is not that publisher and does not sell books. See “Finding the book today” below.
Premise
Steffie Brenner is a high school freshman. After the first day of school she offers her awkward new neighbor, Madison, a ride home with her older sister, Ali. On the way they stop at a local park so Ali can apply for a job, and while Steffie and Madison explore the park, Madison vanishes. Ali is already in trouble over a speeding ticket, so she pressures Steffie to say nothing, even when Madison’s mother and the police ask questions. Steffie has to decide whether to tell the truth. Along the way she also learns a secret about her own past.
On her book page, the author calls the novel a wilderness adventure that deals with addiction, adoption and family. Her current book list describes it as a suspense story.
Publication history
The Girl Who Flew Away was published by Barking Rain Press. On the author’s book page, the free preview and discount coupon are credited to “the publisher, Barking Rain Press.” Her March 2017 launch post and a November 2017 blog-tour post link to a preview page on the Barking Rain Press site. She introduced the novel on her blog on March 22, 2017, calling it her latest young adult novel and saying it was available for Kindle and other ebook platforms. The year 2017 used here comes from that post. No source found gives an exact release date.
The author’s page lists ebook editions on Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Nook and Google Play, along with a paperback through Amazon. In 2017 Muller grouped this book with The Scarred Letter and The Man with the Crystal Ankh as her young adult titles, and she mentioned price promotions on her “novels with Barking Rain Press.” In November 2017 a blog tour promoted the book together with The Man with the Crystal Ankh. Desk research turned up no later edition from another publisher.
Reading notes
These observations come from desk research of the author’s own descriptions. They are not a reading report.
The book follows a familiar setup in young adult suspense: a teenager knows something about a disappearance and is pressured to keep it quiet. The story’s main tension is between loyalty and honesty. The author has said the main character learns what it means to be a sister, and the conflict between Steffie and Ali puts that question at the center.
In blog posts about the book, Muller describes several personal sources of inspiration. One was her father’s joking that she seemed different from the rest of the family. Another was watching students ignore each other in favor of their devices. A third was a melody about friends and sisters that her mother used to sing to her and her sister. She has also written that the novel includes a family member’s heroin addiction. She wanted to present addiction as a disease rather than a personality flaw, and to show that meaningful relationships and activities can help a young person avoid that path. Teachers and book groups may find these subjects useful for discussion, keeping in mind that addiction is part of the story.
Finding the book today
Barking Rain Press no longer sells books. The author’s book page at valmuller.com lists the retailers where the book was sold. Some of those links, including the one to the publisher’s store, may no longer work. Public library catalogs and WorldCat can be searched by title and author. Used copies of the paperback may also turn up on secondhand marketplaces.
Finding the book today
Start with the author's book page at valmuller.com. Library catalogs and WorldCat can be searched by title and author. Barking Rain Press no longer sells books, and no later edition was found.
Discussion questions
- Steffie's offer of a ride home starts everything. How does the story use an everyday choice to raise the stakes?
- Ali asks Steffie to stay silent about what happened. What makes loyalty to a sibling and honesty pull in different directions?
- The author has said Steffie learns what it means to be a sister. How might that idea change over the course of the premise?
- Steffie learns a secret about her own past. How can discovering something about where you come from change how you see your family?
- The author wanted to show addiction as a disease rather than a character flaw. How can fiction for teenagers handle that subject responsibly?
- The author was struck by how technology lets people ignore each other. Where might that idea fit in a story about a missing girl?
- Why might a wilderness setting work well for a story about secrets and belonging?
Open printable prompts for this book · Add to a reading list
Sources
- The Girl Who Flew Away (author book page), Val Muller. Accessed 2026-11-12.
- Writer Wednesday: The Girl Who Flew Away, Val Muller. Accessed 2026-11-12.
- Writer Wednesday: Battling Addiction, Val Muller. Accessed 2026-11-12.
- Flash Fiction: Grading on Effort by Val Muller, Val Muller. Accessed 2026-11-12.
- Books (author website), Val Muller. Accessed 2026-11-12.
- Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Man with the Crystal Ankh / The Girl Who Flew Away, The Pen & Muse. Accessed 2026-11-12.