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!
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