Aidan had tricked his younger brother Lucas before. Lies about Santa, the tooth fairy and even unicorns in the backyard are still sharp in Lucas’ 11 year-old memory, so believing Aidan now is difficult.

No-one knows where Aidan went for six whole days. Their parents were terrified when he was gone. So many people helped search the entire town, the woods, their house and the woods again. As suddenly as he’d disappeared, Aidan was back, in the attic, looking very confused but none the worse for wear.

Soon after Lucas found his brother, he shared what Aidan had said. The police put it down to shock. Their parents were too relieved to care, and the town was just happy at the good news.

The adults might blame Aidan’s reticence on exhaustion and shock, but Lucas knows. Aidan is different now. His story seems a fantasy to everyone else, but Lucas has seen something too hard to ignore.

Their friends, family and neighbours want one question answered. Where did Aidan go? Only Aidan knows, and for now, only his brother is listening.

Story. There are stories we make up, or a story about what happened to us during the day. They are all stories. Aidan has reappeared after vanishing 6 days earlier, and tries to tell his story, only to be shut down by the very people who should listen. But who am I to judge when thankfully no-one close to me has vanished and inexplicably appeared again 6 days later!

This story is told by 11-year-old Lucas (he’s incorrectly called Liam on the back of the book!), who is glad to have his 12 year-old brother back. Aidan tells Lucas what happened to him in snippets of story, passed through the darkness in their shared bedroom at night. The place Aidan speaks of will resonate with many readers, but you’ll have to read it to find out why. 

Wonderfully written. Authentic. Simple and brilliant at the same time.

Author – David Levithan

Age – 10+

Read / Look inside or Listen to an excerpt here

(2021, Text Publishing, Brothers, Siblings, Mystery, Disappearance, Search, Secret, Truth, Family, Police, Interviews, School, Gossip, Story)