| Young Adult Literature |
| Young Adult Fiction |
Summary
Summary
A tragic kidnapping leads to an unlikely friendship in this novel about finding light in the midst of darkness from the author of The Truth About Alice .
When Caroline's little brother is kidnapped, his subsequent rescue leads to the discovery of Ethan, a teenager who has been living with the kidnapper since he was a young child himself. In the aftermath, Caroline can't help but wonder what Ethan knows about everything that happened to her brother, who is not readjusting well to life at home. And although Ethan is desperate for a friend, he can't see Caroline without experiencing a resurgence of traumatic memories. But after the media circus surrounding the kidnappings departs from their small Texas town, both Caroline and Ethan find that they need a friend--and their best option just might be each other.
Author Notes
Jennifer Mathieu is the author of Devoted and The Truth About Alice , the winner of the Children's Choice Book Awards' Teen Choice Debut Author Award. She teaches middle and high school English in Texas, where she lives in the Houston area with her husband and son.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-Kidnapped 11-year-old Dylan Anderson has been found after a harrowing four days; along with him is Ethan Jorgensen, 15, who has been missing four years-from the same neighborhood. Caroline, Dylan's 16-year-old sister, is desperate to help her brother with autism work through his trauma, but he only seems to be getting worse. She wishes her parents would see that Dylan needs professional help, but they are too busy fighting to notice. Caroline seeks out the only other person who might know why her brother is so hard to reach-Ethan. The author of Devoted and The Truth About Alice writes another electrifying tale of self-discovery and the powerful effect relationships have on the human mind. Mathieu takes great effort to point out the complicated consequences of blaming the victim through Ethan's capable psychiatrist, Dr. Greenberg, and maintains the most important message of the book-the abuser is always the one to blame. She also switches the perspectives between Ethan and Caroline so readers can empathize with both aspects of tragedy: the victims and their families. Each character is portrayed with an aching sincerity throughout the novel, and as in real life, the flaws and quirks imbued in each person's struggle with their lot in life make for a compelling story. VERDICT In a social networking world where debates about abuse and victimization are widespread, this is an important addition to any YA collection.-Michael Marie Jacobs, Darlington School, GA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a sensitive portrait of trauma and recovery, a kidnapping kindles an unlikely friendship. Caroline Anderson's 11-year-old younger brother, Dylan, disappeared from in front of the family's Texas home only to be found four days later in a man's apartment. Dylan isn't the only one there: also present is 15-year-old Ethan Jorgenson, who vanished four years earlier. Dylan, who has autism, can't say much about what went on during his brief time with his captor, but Ethan's head is full of painful buried memories. Alternating between Caroline and Ethan's perspectives, Mathieu (Devoted) explores both the effects of trauma-it's clear without being explicit that Ethan suffered some form of sexual abuse-and the role that class plays in recovery, with Ethan's parents able to pay for extensive therapy. Drawn to each other, Caroline and Ethan develop a bond that's initially music-centric and becomes something deeper. It's a fully realized story of what happens after the news cameras fade away and the real work of moving forward begins. Ages 12-up. Agent: Kerry Sparks, Levine Greenberg Rostan. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Carolines eleven-year-old brother Dylan was diagnosed at a young age with low-functioning autism. One day he wanders out of the house and goes missing. Five days later, acting on a tip, the police search Martin Gullivers apartment and find Dylanas well as Ethan, a teen who has been missing for four years. Chapters alternate between Caroline (who wants to know what happened to her brother) and Ethan, who just wants to put the abduction behind him, marking time from three months after the rescue to over a year later. The two develop a friendship, but as Ethans meetings with a therapist cause him to begin to confront his abuse, he must decide what he should tell Caroline about his own role in Dylans abduction. Carolines familys emotionaland financialstruggles are portrayed straightforwardly in a way that rings true for a family facing great challenges. For Ethan, the focus on afterward keeps the emphasis on recovery as opposed to the trauma he experienced; throughout the book, the topic of sexual abuse is treated with great sensitivity. sin gaetano (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
With her usual knack for thoughtful, nuanced, character-driven takes on difficult subjects, Mathieu tackles kidnapping and PTSD. Alternating chapters from Ethan (a kidnapping survivor who was imprisoned for four years) and Caroline (whose autistic younger brother was held captive with Ethan for four days) chart the families' reactions after the rescue. The kidnapper shot himself rather than yield to police, but the damage inflicted on both boys and their loved ones inevitably builds up post-rescue before turning the corner toward health. It doesn't help that their small Texas town turns an inquisitive, well-meaning eye on the two families, or that Caroline's parents' marriage, never strong, unravels under the stress. However, Caroline and Ethan, despite wildly different backgrounds, discover a common ground of music, and their garage jam sessions build a friendship that blossoms into something more. With sympathetic and believably flawed characters of all ages, a great cover that effectively portrays Ethan's lost innocence, and terrific psychiatric treatment scenes, it's both a page-turner and a thought-provoking source for discussion.--Carton, Debbie Copyright 2016 Booklist
