REVIEW: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Name: Where Things Come Back

Author: John Corey Whaley

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Release Date: May 3, 2011 (US)

Pages: 228, Hardcover

Source: Library

Rating: 5 Teacups

Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . . 
In the summer before Cullen's senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone's eating "Lazarus burgers." But as absurd as the town's carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared. 
While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax. 
Complex but truly extraordinary, tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, this novel finds wonder in the ordinary and emerges as ultimately hopeful. It's about a lot more than what Cullen calls, “that damn bird.” It’s about the dream of second chances.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

Where Things Come Back is a touching story about religion, missing brothers, and woodpeckers. Wait, what? Yes, you heard me right. WOOD FREAKING PECKERS.

As mentioned above, Where Things Come Back is quite heavy on the religion. Now, if you've been following me on Twitter for a while now, you probably know that I HATE World History class, and when we were learning about world religions, it was pretty much death for me. When religion was first brought on in the book, all I could think was, "Oh no, here we go AGAIN." But after awhile, I got used to it, and it actually was kind of… nice. The religious aspect part of the story was more there to symbolize hope, I think. It was a nice touch, as well as beautiful.

The story itself is complex and as many little storylines in the story. In Where Things Come Back, the story is told between different point of views, between Cullen Witter, the main character, Benton Sage (a religious boy in Ethiopia), and even Cabot Searcy (arrives later in the novel). All of their stories somehow intertwine and it is quite magical to see it happen. There is even areas in the novel where Cullen takes the reader back to his past.

Where Things Come Back is such a unique story. I mean, have YOU ever read a YA fiction novel with woodpeckers involved? I know I haven't, until now. The aspect of woodpeckers included in the story was totally random, and totally relevant. It's spontaneous, but it makes sense for it to be there. Everything fits and came together very well.

And may I talk about Cullen for a second? I have weird feelings about Cullen. For me, I couldn't really identify a character trait to describe him. It's quite hard. He wasn't full of fun, but he wasn't boring and selfish either. But he was one thing--interesting. He has so many thoughts and ideas and the way he analyzes things is very entertaining to read about.

Lastly, Mr. John Corey Whaley's writing. It was hard to get into at first, because of the complexity I'm not normally used to. But his writing quickly becomes soothing and easy-going. I loved it.

Where Things Come Back earned an abundance of awards for a reason, because it's a breathtaking story that leaves the reader pondering. If you liked Jellicoe Road or The Perks of Being a Wallflower, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

5 Teacups for Where Things Come Back!