Cute, but forgettable, middle grade novel. I wanted to love it, and it was just fine. I feel like the author may have been rushed?

A cute fantasy/mystery combo for today’s young readers that drips of 90’s kid nostalgia. I love David Levithan and this didn’t disappoint!

We’ve seen what happens when Lucy reaches the back of the wardrobe, when Digory and Polly put on the rings, when Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room. If you haven’t yet, you may soon discover the world that Morgan and Eli discover through their attic.* In fact, children’s fiction is full of magical worlds discovered by the lucky few. We follow them in and experience what they experience, see what they see. But what happens in the world they leave behind? What happens to the families and friends they forget to say goodbye to? What happens when they come back so full of a better, more vibrant world?

In the Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S., we the readers never see Aidan’s magical world. We see Lucas worrying and wondering what happened to his big brother. We see their parents falling apart. When Aidan returns just as mysteriously as he left, we see Aidan not wanting to say where he went. He knows how people will react. We see Lucas trying to decide if his brother is lying or not when his story does come out. After all, Aidan has told Lucas fantastic lies before. We see two brothers learning to trust each other again, a boy trying to find a way to live in his own world, and an aunt doing her best to support the whole sad, angry, confused family. The alluring stories that Aidan shares with Lucas about Avenieu leave you wishing we could have seen this other world alongside him.

As usual, David Levithan writes from an angle we rarely consider. The result is a beautiful, creative story about our side of the wardrobe. Fantasy-loving kids in middle grade will delight in it. Kids who prefer contemporary stories should also find something worthwhile in the what-ifs of Lucas’s perspective.

A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

*Lucy from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
Diggory and Polly from The Magician's Nephew, C.s. Lewis
Gregor from Gregor the Overlander, by Suzanne Collins
Morgan and Eli from The Barren Grounds, by David Alexander Robertson

I absolutely loved it! David Levithan's stories are ones I buy as soon as they are released, and I was incredibly curious how he would be transition as an author to a middle grade audience. As an educator I think he did it seamlessly! The characters are relatable, and I thought using the perspective of Aidan's brother Lucas to tell the story would make it an excellent option as a whole class novel. Would Aidan tell a different story or a different version of his story to a reader? And if so, what would it be? Lucas's observations of how his brother was treated lent such a unique aspect that it definitely is worth mentioning. I can't wait to get a couple paper copies for my classroom! Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #TheMysteriousDisappearanceofAidanSastoldtohisbrother by #DavidLevithan

Truly a unique story, one that I think is suited for the tween to young adult audience. I am not sure I would recommend this to the younger reader who loves fantasy novels -- while there is an element of fantasy to Aidan's story, it is a fairly limited part of the narrative.
Instead, the focus of the book is what happens in the real world when Aidan is gone -- the sorrow and fear his parents and community feel, and the feelings that arise when he returns with a seemingly unbelievable account of where he has been.
Both Aidan and Lucas are wonderfully drawn characters, and I believe that readers will become invested in their story. There is much to think on here, as themes of loss, pre-teen longing and self-discovery, and the bonds of family are explored. This is one that I would recommend to the young adult reader who enjoys character driven novels with emotional story arcs.

I would like to thank PRH International for the digital review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Contrary to what the book title might suggest, The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. doesn't focus on Aidan's disappearance, but rather, it is a story about the effects and consequences it had on the people surrounding Aidan. As the story unfolds through Aidan's brother Lucas's perspective, questions between reality, fantasy, and the truth constantly float in the mind of the readers.

I simply enjoyed reading this novel. Although the plot development felt quite slow for my taste, the author's easy and amusing way of writing resolved this small issue. Family relationship and support played a significant theme in this novel. In addition, given the nature of the plot, this book talked about some difficult topics like grief, mourning, and the possibility death of a loved one. The solemn atmosphere surrounding the book was a little bit heavy. Thankfully, they were written delicately so that younger audience can understand and connect naturally to what feelings and messages were conveyed. I just wished that there were more details about where Aidan went to. The ending was different from what I expected, nevertheless it felt right. Some questions were left unanswered, so it was up to the readers to make their own conclusion.

I liked Lucas's character and how a reliable narrator he was. He was able to describe how each person felt and dealt with what was happening. He loved his brother and seemed to really look up to him. That was why when Aidan suddenly disappeared, it deeply affected him as well. I also liked how he never pushed Aidan to tell him what truly happened during his disappearance. He just waited patiently for him to open up little by little.

Overall, The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. is a quick and enjoyable read. If you're a Levithan fan, you'll enjoy this book as well.

4/5 stars!

When my logical brain gets the better of me I ask a lot of parent-y or teacher-y questions when I'm reading a book. 0ne of the biggest ones is along the lines of "but what happened while they were away? What happened with the parents? Where were the parents? Did no one else get involved?"

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told by his brother) takes those thoughts and turns them into a book. Rather than focusing on the Narnia-esque premise of traveling to another world, the majority of the book takes place after the adventure. Lucas, Aidan's younger brother, was there when his parents searched. When the police were sent for. When they talked about dredging the lake. Lucas was also there when Aiden reappeared, and now he's trying to figure out what to believe.

What I appreciate most about this book is that it really looks at Lucas, his family, and the impact that having a missing sibling had on them and their relationships. We get to see the stress and results of the fear for six days. It's also interesting to see how Aidan responds to losing the magical world that he had visited, and what he does when he comes back. This is the story that comes after the adventure. It has the ramifications and consequences for losing yourself in a fantasy world - and it works well for all ages who question the logical side of things, not just the middle grade readers this was created for.

It's definitely going in my classroom, I highly recommend this new adventure!

For 6 days 12yo Aidan was missing. It seemed like the whole town was looking but he was nowhere to be found. The police were involved, interviewing family members, including Lucas, his 11yo brother who was the last person to see Aidan. But, just as suddenly as he vanished, he returned. Lucas found him on the floor in the attic a room that had been checked many times. But Aiden's not saying much about where he was, and what little he has isn't believed, especially by his parents. When the news gets around to the middle school that Aidan might have been in another world, maybe one with unicorns, Aidan begins to wish he hadn't told anyone.

Wow. I could not put it down, when I wasn't reading I was thinking about it. The premise is brilliant, Levithan's writing compelling, exciting and unpredictable. A heartbreaking story about lost experiences and family dynamics - also the value of siblings. I was thoroughly engaged, I know my middle school readers will be too. Loved it.

New York Times bestselling author of noted YA novels like Every Day and co-author of the Lily and Dash series (yes, the one the Netflix show is based on), David Levithan is back with his first middle grade (ages 8-12) novel, The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S (as told to his brother). In it, Levithan hits the ground running with a story that takes the familiar tale of a character who is mysteriously whisked off to a magical world by falling through a hidden door and flips it on its head. The official summary reads:

"Aidan disappeared for six days. Six agonizing days of searches and police and questions and constant vigils. Then, just as suddenly as he vanished, Aidan reappears. Where has he been? The story he tells is simply. . . impossible. But it’s the story Aidan is sticking to.

His brother, Lucas, wants to believe him. But Lucas is aware of what other people, including their parents, are saying: that Aidan is making it all up to disguise the fact that he ran away.

When the kids in school hear Aidan’s story, they taunt him. But still Aidan clings to his story. And as he becomes more of an outcast, Lucas becomes more and more concerned. Being on Aidan’s side would mean believing in the impossible. But how can you believe in the impossible when everything and everybody is telling you not to?"

A fantasy trope, told from the perspective of modern day reality, The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S (as told to his brother) draws readers in from the beginning with the question of what actually happened to Aidan. The fantasy tale Aidan spins upon his return, about visiting and then being expelled from a land called Aveinieu, a place with green skies and strange animals like maddoxes, seems to be nothing more than a made up excuse for disappearing. Places like that don’t exist. Right?

Lucas isn’t so sure, but his narration tells the story of Aidan’s mysterious disappearance and reappearance from a perspective that is firmly based in reality, because whether Aidan is telling the truth or not, his little trip has some big effects not only on his life, but the lives of the people around him. Everyone is so focused on getting life to return to normal after Aidan’s return, but nothing can ever really return to normal for Lucas, because no matter where he went, Aidan left Lucas behind. From the first chapter Lucas makes it clear that he and his brother were (at that point Aidan is still missing) very close, and he struggles to believe that Aidan would choose to leave without him.

Levithan presents readers with a story about some of the real world problems that come from kids running away from home, but frames them within this reality where Aidan didn’t mean to run away and leave his brother and parents behind. In this, the story is more one of family dynamics and the experience of a young boy whose brother went missing than it is a fantasy novel. The reader only ever hears of Aveinieu in snippets as Lucas draws the details out of Aidan in his attempts to understand what happened to his brother. However, the interactions, positive and negative, between the brothers, between the boys and their parents, and between Lucas and his Aunt Brandi are at the heart of the story. Ultimately it is the story of what happened after Aidan returned, and how the family moved on.

This book manages to capture the wonder of a fantasy world through those glimpses of Aveinieu while still maintaining a strong foothold in reality when the two worlds collide. Masterfully weaving the two worlds together into a story that had me reading the entire book in a single sitting, Levithan creates an engaging story that alludes to fantasy favorites like The Chronicles of Narnia while never losing sight of the goal: to tell the tale of what that story looks like from the other side of the wardrobe. Levithan tackles this unique perspective with his usual artistry, as Lucas’s narrative voice clearly mirrors the progress of the story from his choppy, almost frantic tone in the beginning to a more coherent, calm tone in later chapters. This helps set the pace for the story, and not only that, but by using Lucas’s voice Levithan manages to do something that not many middle grade novels successfully do, which is to include a trans character whose entire story is not build upon the fact they they are trans. Lucas clearly identifies his Aunt Brandi as once having been his mother’s younger brother, but never once identifies her as anything other than his aunt who he goes to for advice.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S (as told to his brother) is exactly the book I wanted to read this year. David Levithan has outdone himself with a story that crosses fantasy with reality to perfection. This book immediately grabs your attention from Lucas’s description of what happened while Aidan was gone in chapter one and holds onto it through he final words of wisdom in chapter 45. Although the target audience for this book is children from about 8 to 12, children and adults alike will enjoy the way Levithan flipped a familiar story inside out to turn it into something new and unique.

Six days ago, 12-year-old Aiden disappeared. A massive, town-wide, police search turned up nothing. On the sixth day, Aiden’s younger brother, Lucas finds him on the attic floor, a place that had been searched. Aiden claims he traveled through a dresser in the attic to a fantasy world called Aveinieu, 12- Unable to account for where he was during the six days and being noticeably exhausted, Aiden’s parents aren’t sure if they should be worried or furious. His younger brother, Lucas isn’t sure if Aiden’s lying or telling the truth, Lucas wrestles internally with the possibility of the impossible. Could there be truth to Aiden’s story? What really happened to Aiden during his disappearance? This Narnia-esque premise is intriguing and alludes to various different classic children’s novels readers will be familiar with. The plot is slower paced than expected but is well-developed. The characters are easy to relate to, flawed, and easy to step into the shoes of. The writing style is fun and fitting for the novel. Readers who enjoy stories about family, mystery, and magical realism will enjoy reading this book. Grades 4 to 7, 3.5 stars

Not what I was expecting, but definitely enjoyable. It would've been interesting to learn more about "Aveinieu", but instead the focal point of the story was the impact of Aidan's return. The adults around him doubt his fantastical story of another world, but his brother Lucas listens and accepts Aidan's tale without judgement. Lucas provides a safe haven for Aidan after his return is met with skepticism and even, in some cases, outright anger.

I appreciated the diversity of characters in the story, the connection between the brothers, and the hints about the wonderous world of Aveinieu. This story feels similar to many that I read in middle school - toeing the line between real and fantasy, tying them together seamlessly.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This was a fun book. I loved the short chapters which gave it a very fast pace. It makes one consider what they are willing to believe, and what you would be willing to do to be believed. It wasn’t the most amazing book I ever read, but I loved the unique storyline!

This book will keep you thinking for days! Readers get to meet Aidan, a boy who goes missing and mysteriously returns days later. He and his brother, Lucas, discover that truth/secrets aren't always easy to manage especially in middle school. Lots of depth of emotion in this book, and definitely worth a reread and multiple discussions. Beautifully original!

Levithan's first middle grade novel tells the story of Lucas, 11 years old, and his brother, Aidan, 12, when Aidan has suddenly disappeared and reappeared days later telling a story that is hard to believe. While everyone wants to know where Aidan was, they can't accept his story. Even Lucas has trouble, but he listens to his brother and chooses to believe him. It's not about where Aidan was-- it's a story about the family and the community, about trust and perceived betrayal. Review from e-galley.

I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I love how the story is told through the brothers point of view. We are getting a story within a story. It builds and makes you believe in other worlds and fantasy. A wonderful middle grade book to add to your classroom library.

David Levithan is one of my favorite authors so I was excited to see a new book from him! This story did not disappoint. It's filled with the same love, friendship and magic you can expect from a Levithan book.

I thought the story was original and the writing well done. I loved the bond between the two brothers, Aidan and Lucas.

Overall another well written story from David Levithan!

This book started off with a great premise...kids are always interested in kidnapping or missing kid stories. I was intrigued as well, and I loved David Levithan’s Every Day trio of stories. However, this one never quite got off the ground and left readers with an unsatisfying ending. Also, Aidan’s experience...especially disappearing into a wardrobe (dresser) and returning with a fantastical story, was too much like Narnia.

This book will be a good fit for fans of the Narnia books. I felt torn between wanting to know about Aiden’s experiences in another world and wanting to resolve the situation for him back home.

Lucas' brother Aiden goes missing and the whole town joins in in helping to find him. They search everywhere, including the attic in the house. A week later, Lucas finds his brother in the same attic they already searched before. Aiden claims he went through the dresser and into another world. Of course, no one believes him and the town spirals out of control in claiming that they deserve to know the truth. Lucas isn't sure what he believes but is there to support Aiden. Reminiscent of Narnia, I thought this was a sweet story between two brothers supporting each other through a hard time. I really liked the ending and thought it was bittersweet. Any age can read this and I do think there are lessons for the younger aged children. I've read Levithan in the past and have always been a fan so I'm glad to have read his newest book.

Thank you to much to Netgalley and to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

When Aidan reappears his family has to grapple with the details of his disappearance. Who will be able to ask the right questions in order to get the answers they need? When met with resistance, who can Aidan trust? In this modern day Narnia, a brotherly bond proves to be strongest of all. An intriguing mystery with all sorts of possibilities that many MG readers will enjoy.