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It’s almost New Years! Anyone else feel like the White Rabbit?

Christmas may be over but the stress of the holidays is still going strong.

If you have family out of state (which almost everyone does) you’ll understand that sometimes means celebrating Christmas more than once.. and if you, too, are in a similar situation right now? I feel you. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of getting through Christmas, only to have a parent’s birthday fall on New Year’s.. I really, really feel you.

Is it any wonder that reading has begun to feel like an extreme sport?

I did come across this little gem, though, and it was a great break in all the chaos.

‘Manifest’ meets ‘The 4400’
When six children go missing.. their families are devastated.
It’s nothing short of a miracle when, eleven years later, they suddenly reappear.
Where have they been? Who would have done such a thing? Why do they have no memories of the last decade? And where is the sixth child, Max?

You’ll have to read it to find out!

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(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases made through my links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you.)

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

Young adult, Fiction, Mystery
Standalone

First line: Like being ripped open, midnightmare. Breathless, in the center of a scream.

Eleven years ago six children disappeared.. an event that shocked their small community and devastated the families left behind.

Now five have returned in, what appears to be, perfect health.
None have memories.
Not of their homes, families, or the past decade they’ve been missing.

Though many said their farewells years ago, some continued searching, hoping they would one day find answers to how such a thing could happen. Unfortunately, their sudden reappearance causes more suspicion than relief and the warm, joyous welcome they should have received never comes.

What happened to the sixth child, Max?
Where have they been?
Why were they taken, better yet, why have they returned?

They need answers but when the test results of one teen reveals something strange and unexplainable.. They’re no longer willing to leave the investigation up to the police.

Will they find closure.. ?
Or is the truth darker and more convoluted than they could have ever imagined?

Four Stars!

I had quite a few pet peeves with this book, with the characters and the writing, but it was interesting.
It had and kept me intrigued.. a sometimes difficult quality to find.

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The story takes place in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.. which doesn’t surprise me. Florida’s home to some pretty unique characters.
Chapters are broken up into ‘days’ and are told from multiple POV’s.

Scarlett:
I liked Scarlett, she seemed the most driven to find answers, to do something. I found her to be one of the more interesting POV’s because of what goes on inside her head. I don’t want to spoil anything by saying too much but.. her mind was a puzzle of it’s own.
Lucas:
Didn’t stand out as much for me, while he’s one of the main POV’s, I just didn’t feel much for his character.
Kristen:
Was entertaining. She’s blunt and has a big personality, one that’s almost unlikeable, but she grows on you.
Sarah:
Didn’t really have a big role in the story, she just kind of fades into the background.
Adam:
Rarely a part of the main storyline, Adam’s of the mind that they should leave the past buried.
Max Godard: The boy who didn’t return.
Avery: Max’s younger sister. Frustrating. Kind of self centered. I didn’t care for her.
Ryan: Lucas’ brother. He’s probably the only one I felt had a realistic reaction with everything.

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Eleven years ago, six children were taken, a tragic mystery none could explain.
Now they’re back, sixteen, and claiming to have no memories of the last eleven years..

The book took off from page one, kept a pretty decent pace throughout, and managed to sustain an atmosphere you can easily sink into. I was pleasantly surprised by the twisty mystery the author created here.. it kept me guessing until the very end. Though, it did start off with some confusion, I felt like that made the feelings and circumstances the characters experienced more authentic.

The teens emotions did seem flat to me, almost stunted, unfeeling. They’re not reacting in a way that you would think after such trauma. No tears. No breakdowns. No shutting down or checking out. And that did throw me off some.
But their families? They’re a mess. All tried to hold themselves together in their own way. Whether it was finding an escape at the bottom of a bottle, clinging to conspiracy theories, or years spent building a memorial to the lost.. they all needed some way to cope with what happened to their children.

I can’t imagine the agony of losing a child. I wouldn’t want to. But here.. the author has taken this dark, heartbreaking subject and woven together raw, damaged people that draw you in and leave you sympathizing with all their broken pieces.

A great ending completes this fascinating story and, even though I’m not sure I was completely satisfied with some things, I did feel things were tied up nicely.

This story is a tragedy.
A mystery..
This is a story of love and loss and finding yourself.

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If you’re looking for an intriguing, young adult mystery to fit in before the end of the year, I would recommend checking this out. It’s not so deep you’ll drown but it is a decent distraction.

Happy reading!

What book would you like to finish before the year ends?

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