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Where Things Come Back
CCBC Review:
Teen Cullen Witter lives in the town of Lily, Arkansas, population 3,947, where, he observes, most “people are complete ass-hats who tried and subsequently failed to leave this place behind.” Cullen’s distinctive voice, pessimistic and often funny, pulls readers into a complex and compelling story full of tension and surprise. When an ornithologist reports sighting a Lazarus bird, long believed to be extinct (think Ivory-Billed Woodpecker), Lily suddenly becomes the focus of national attention. Around the same time, Cullen’s younger brother, brilliant Gabriel, vanishes. Cullen is frustrated with the ongoing attention the elusive bird receives while he and his parents cope with uncertainty and grief. Meanwhile, Benton Sage, a young man filled with missionary zeal and a need to please his rigid father, becomes disenchanted with religion after recognizing his inability to influence the spiritual lives of others during a mission trip to Ethiopia. He returns to the United Sates, starts college, and shares his interest in the Book of Enoch with his charismatic roommate – all of which has dramatic consequence down the line when these two seemingly disparate storylines eventually intersect. John Corey Whaley’s debut novel explores themes of death, resurrection, and redemption; families and friendship; loss and discovery for a start. Whaley’s tightly plotted narrative in which the timeline proves to be critical unfolds through beautifully expressive writing that reveals richly developed characters and thought-provoking insights at every turn. ©2011 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 14 and older
Age Range:
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Birds (Fiction)
Brothers
Death and Dying
Faith, Spirituality and Religion
Families
Friendship
Grief and Loss
Hope and Healing
Small Town Life
Diversity subject:
Christian
Publisher:
Atheneum
Publish Year: 2011
Pages: 228
ISBN: 9781442413337
CCBC Location: Fiction, Whaley