Edie is a high school girl on the run with her mother to escape her abusive father for the past five-ish years. Wherever they go, he finds them. This last move takes Edie from Toronto to London. She starts a new school with the typical school issues-dorks, outcasts, bullies and the rest--and after her second day, Edie knows there is something seriously wrong. 
 Her mother doesn't return home after her first night of work. Edie is freaked out--did her mother fall in with bad elements, is she just late due to commuting...or has HE found them already? 
 Two days pass, and no mom. Edie is desperate, and takes a chance stealing PS80 (okay, that's 80 pounds, if I've got the wrong symbol) from the charity fund at school. Edie needs some cash if she's going to hunt all over London to track down he mom. 
 Problem one: another kid, Jermaine, is blamed for the theft. 
 Problem two: Jermaine knows Edie took the cash. And he's pissed. 
 Problem three: the police await Edie at her flat 
 Problem four: Edie knows nothing about traveling around London. She's been in England six days, has no contacts and no chance of doing anything remotely helpful. 
 Things are set to go really wonky, but Jermaine--school hoodlum extraordinaire--steps in. He believes Edie's story of her missing mom, and saw the cops chase her through the streets. He's pissed about the money/theft, but Edie promises to return the money and confess as soon as she locates her mom. 
 Jermaine agrees to help her in the search, and they spend two days traversing London's public transit searching her mom's last known whereabouts. They get some leads, but it's a frustrating experience. In the meantime, spending so much time together allows a connection to be made--something Edie has had little experience with considering her life on the run. They strike up a tentative friendship, and more, but the end is not rosy. 
 SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE is a book about domestic violence, living on the fringe, and (obliquely) the power of racism. It is one girl's fictional plight, but could be any of thousands of kids' life story. I felt it was, at points, a little unbelievable, but that's the tricky thing with obsession--it is hard to understand. Edie and her mother have very real fears, and a solid reason for them. I felt this was adequately translated into fiction, and think this story is an important one to tell. 
 If you, or someone you know, is in an abusive environment, please call for help. US Nat'l Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233. Three women a day (in the US) die from domestic abuse. It is a very real danger. Call for help. 
 I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.