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THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF AIDAN S. (as told to his brother) by David Levithan


 copyright date: February 2, 2021

primarily marketed for: Middle Grades


I devoured this one in a single sitting. The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother) by David Levithan is the book I did not know I needed. 

The story opens when Aidan S. has gone missing. His parents are distraught. His brother, Lucas, is beside himself. The town is pitching in to help search. As the days pass, the outcome looks more and more grim. 

And then Aidan shows up in the attic, wearing the same pajamas he had on when he left, and everyone wants answers. Is he alright? Where was he? What made him disappear? 

Although Aidan's story is the driving force behind this novel, it is really Lucas's story readers enter. When Aidan returns with an explanation beyond belief, Lucas is left to decide what really matters.

Levithan hints at classic tales, but his perspective is uniquely fresh and inventive. Readers will be left thinking about what really makes a story true. 

I am looking forward to adding this one to my classroom library shelf and sharing it with readers. Thanks to Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for a free, temporary, digital review copy. 

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