I always enjoy David Levithan books and this story is no exception. As I expected, this was a sweet and interesting tale that was wonderfully written. The story centers around a 12 year old boy who disappears only to return a short time later and the fallout he and his family endure. I loved how the story reflects the stress that occurs even as things return to normal. This book felt realistic, enjoyable and held my attention throughout. I loved this story and would definitely recommend others read it as well.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S is about a 12 year old boy who disappears for 6 days without a logical reason. Written from the perspective of 11 year old Lucas, this story is a thoughtful look of what happens to a family in crisis. Aiden's explanation of where he has been is not ordinary. Most people can't open their minds to it. It's magical and different. But his brother Lucas believes in him and together they figure out how to move forward. We never really know what other people truly experience. We all have memories to hold on to for ourselves and to share. Love and acceptance matter. This story was refreshingly honest in showing feelings and being honest with yourself.

3.5 stars, rounded up
This is a meaningful middle grade novel with themes of family, the bond between two brothers, and acceptance. The overall premise is that twelve-year-old Aidan disappears for six days and his parents and eleven-year-old brother Lucas are both puzzled and frantic about where he has gone. When he mysteriously reappears, he claims to have visited a different world, and not surprisingly, no one believes him. Lucas wants to though, so he works to be supportive of his brother despite what everyone else thinks.

I loved the brother relationship in this book. This is more of a story about the aftermath of Aidan's disappearance, not really about the disappearance and what happened to him while he was gone. Details do get related to Lucas, but that's not really the point of the book. It's more about the repercussions from everyone around them: the expectations of some sort of explanation for the people who searched for him, the skepticism of people you think are friends, the need to close ranks around your family for protection.

The one thing I didn't care for (but expected because hey, this is a Levithan novel) was the thrown in relationship at the end for Aiden. I thought it was completely unnecessary and not what this book was even about overall. It changed the feel of the novel. I think if the author is going to return to his roots and write more middle grade books, he should just stick with the plot and leave the love relationships to the young adult books. I'd say this with ANY relationship in a MG novel, kids grow up way too quickly these days, why must we push them to pair up so early, even in a book?

**Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review**
"The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S." By David Levithan is a beautiful middle-grade novel about a boy whose brother goes missing, and what happens after he comes back claiming he was in a fantasy land.
The writing in this book compelled me from the start, and it really proves that you don't have to sacrifice quality for enjoyment of a younger audience. That it's told from the brother's perspective instead of from the boy who goes missing makes for a very unique and interesting angle, which I very much enjoyed. The vignette style it's written in keeps your attention all throughout the book and makes the story flow faster, which in this case was amazing.
My only complaint is the end of the book, which was a little underwhelming, but I enjoyed the whole thing a lot and appreciated the casual LGBTQ+ rep.
My rating is of 4/5 stars.
I'll be uploading the review on instagram the day the book comes out.

This middle grade novel is the story of two brothers of 11 and 12 years old. When Aidan disappears mysteriously, then comes back a few days later with an incredible story, his younger brother Lucas has to make sense of the situation and deal with his changed sibling and the unbelieving adults.

The book is quite short and easy to read, told in the point of view of Lucas, who wants to believe his brother’s story but has doubts throughout the entire book. I really enjoyed how thin the line was between what was real and what was a lie, David Levithan did a great job at keeping things mysterious until the very end. I wanted to believe Aidan, but just as I thought that he was telling the truth, some details made me doubt. Aidan proves how good he is at lying, in different situations, and I just spent the whole book trying to guess what really happened.

We only get small pieces of the mysterious world Aidan traveled to, but it is original and fascinating, and I thought we were given just enough to picture what it could’ve been like.
In the end, this is a book about the bond between two siblings, about sharing a secret and trusting each other. I loved the ending, I thought it was just as it should be and was a nice conclusion to the story.

I liked how the characters were connected and how they interacted with each other. It was nice to see that the adults weren’t one group with one single idea, each of them was nuanced, sometimes surprising, and brought something to the story. The LGBTQ representation includes a trans side character and a reference to mlm romance, which I didn’t expect but loved seeing in there.

The narrator’s voice sometimes sounded a bit mature for an 11-year-old child but it didn’t bother me that much. At different moments of the story I was actually wondering if he was telling this right after it happened or years later.

This is a book about family, love and trust. In the end, we don’t get answers for everything and the tale remains quite mysterious, but the message of the story was lovely and I don’t regret reading this at all!

Trigger warnings: none, I think, though the first chapter deals with a missing child and the possibility of his death.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

While sometimes moving, this is a slight novel that lacks the depth to engage teens and the imagination to engage younger readers.

I have very little experience reading middle grade novels (and didn't realize this was one until after I'd started reading, otherwise I may have passed on it, despite my love for David Levithan), but from what I have read and from what I understand to be popular, this isn't silly enough (Wimpy Kid) or fantastical enough (Land of Stories) for the type of reader I associate with middle grade stories. I'm sure there is an introspective 11 or 12 year old out there who will love this, and I'm glad it exists for those kids. At the very least, it gives those readers an option that's better written (by miles) than the other MG books out there.

But if I were a kid reading this book, I don't think I would've found much to glom on to. It's a grounded story of brotherly love and the feeling of needing to escape that I think we all had as pre-teens and early teenagers, but there's just not a lot to it. I imagine this could be good for parents to read with their pre-teens and start discussions of identity, isolation, and more.

Magical realism for middle grade readers!!

Twelve-year-old Aidan vanishes in the middle of the night, only to reappear six days later in his own attic. What happened to Aidan? Everyone wants answers. His parents. The police. The townspeople who searched frantically for him. Especially his younger brother, Lucas. However, Aidan's explanation of his whereabouts is downright fantastical. He claims to have been drawn into another world through a portal in the closet, which satisfies no one.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan, available February 2nd, follows the aftereffects of Aidan's return. The story is told from the perspective of eleven-year-old Lucas, who is set up as the reliable narrator. At first, even Lucas, does not believe Aidan. But slowly, Lucas comes to realize that "believing" may be the only way to get his brother to open up.

While the ending was not as strong as I had hoped, this book was a great read overall. As an adult, I very much loved the story and themes, but I am unsure how middle grade readers will respond.

Thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ✨

First of all, thank you to Net Galley, as well as the author and the publisher, for the copy of this book!

I’m a big fan of middle grade, always have been. There’s something about the purity and simplicity of the stories, with its message to come across, that I really enjoy.

This one was interesting, heart-warming and frustrating all in one. It was beautiful to see the love between the two brothers, both amazing characters, and infuriating to see the reactions of everyone to the situation at hand, both kids and adults. I found myself not knowing what to believe and just wanting to hug Lucas and Aidan.

Instead of telling us about Aidan’s time in Aveinieu, the author leads us to read about the aftermath of his disappearance, which I enjoyed. It felt very real, despite the whimsical feel of the Narnia like world we got a glimpse into.

On the one hand, it felt like not much happened in terms of plot. However, there was a big progression in terms of the characters and the relationships between them.

Moreover, values such as family and friendship were put forward in a strong manner, showing us that there is very little more important than that.

I can’t wait to get a physical copy once the book comes out so I can reread it in one sitting with a warm cup of tea!

David Levithan is an auto-buy author for me. No matter what book he publishes, I will pick it up – which is only proven true with this one, as it involves fantastical features (not my typical cup of tea), and is more of a middle-reader level text than YA. Even still, Levithan's ability to make me care about the characters is powerful, and I found myself rooting for Aidan and his brother Lucas throughout the entire book. Problem is, unless they return to this mystical place that Aidan has discovered, there's no real way for a book like this to end.

This book captures elements from "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", including the idea of traveling through a closet/wardrobe in order to travel to another world. The heartbreaking component comes in when the rest of the world doesn't believe Aidan, his story, or anything about where he's been. It's truly sad how easily the world forgets about their imagination and the possibilities of things we cannot always see when they grow up. Even more then this, it's beautiful how Levithan can not only paint these challenges, but then also show the growth of young kids in their lives in such a short amount of space.

Overall, a great read – not my typical preference, but I will always love the worlds and characters Levithan creates.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. is a fascinating exploration of the impact of an unexplained event on a family and their wider community. A twelve-year-old boy, Aidan, goes missing without a trace and returns a few days later. Instead of relief, his reappearance leads to further questions and concerns, as he claims to have been in another world, called Aveinieu.

Whether what happened to Aidan was real or not becomes less relevant in comparison to how everyone reacts when they hear about it. Aidan’s account of his whereabouts elicits frustration and ridicule from those around him, but what he needs most is to be believed. This is a powerful story about the importance of accepting the truths of other people, even if they are beyond your own comprehension.

Told in the first person, from the point of view of Aidan’s younger brother Lucas, I was hooked from the first page. I love how it’s written - it flows so naturally that it feels as though an old friend is speaking to you. Although there are fantasy elements, they never seem far-fetched or out of place.

Lucas and Aidan are extremely convincing, as is their relationship, which is like that of most siblings. At times there might be conflict, but the brothers’ fierce loyalty and affection is overwhelmingly apparent throughout the story. All the characters are brilliant, including the boys’ parents,.

I was especially fond of Aunt Brandi and my favourite lines in the book come from her: "None of us can understand it. Some people will accept that. Other people won't. They get scared by things they don't understand. Those are the people to be careful around. But they don't get to dictate our reality."

Brandi has a particular insight into feeling like an outsider. She understands what Aidan requires from those closest to him and helps his family to support him. I loved Officer Pinkus too. Like Brandi, she is gentle and compassionate and full of wisdom which benefits readers as well as the brothers at the centre of the story.

Even though this describes the aftermath of something extraordinary, rather than the event itself, it’s still full of suspense. I had chills at certain parts and felt a palpable sense of dread at others, especially when the boys were worried about going back to school. Anxiety about a return to any public space after an incident that has made us conspicuous is something to which most people can relate.

This book will resonate with all readers. The fear of being honest with others about aspects of yourself, your feelings, your experiences, or your problems, is universal. This story demonstrates that no matter what you are struggling with, you’ll feel better if you talk about it with someone you trust. It also shows the value of non-judgemental listening. I really enjoyed The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. This was my first time to read anything by this author, and I’m looking forward to discovering more of his work.

I received a complimentary copy of this title through NetGalley, but all opinions expressed are my own.

I adore the way Levithan weaves the most magical yet impactful stories for all ages - and this book is no exception. Truly enchanting!!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this novel.

Aidan returns from his own version of Narnia, cliched wardrobe and all. I loved Lucas as a character. I loved his faith in his brother, and his willingness to be the one that kept his confidence and believed him wholeheartedly. Aidan's story puts him in a difficult position in the real world, but Lucas' support makes it all a little more bearable.

3.5
I really enjoyed this fun mystery story which I think is perfect for fans of Malamander by Thomas Taylor! This book follows our main character Lucas who when his brother goes missing for 6 days tries to find out what happened. I really loved the brotherly relationships in this story as well as the complicated family relationships. I also loved the atmosphere and creativity that was woven into this novel. The only issue I had with it was I was never completely gripped or connected to the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a great story! Kudos to mr. Levithan for writing a smart book to smart kids! The mysterious disappearance of Aidan and the equally mysterious reappearance sends his hometown into a whirlwind of emotions. Adults and kids alike have hard time dealing with both incidents and Aidan's family is trapped in the middle of it, whilst trying to cope with it themselves. The story takes another leap when it is discovered that Aidan believes he was in another realm the time he was missing, with green skies and unicorns. Loved the ease of the storytelling, Aidan's younger brother Lucas was the perfect character to give account of the incident.

“It was a game of hide and seek that got old after five minutes, alarming after an hour, and the scariest thing that had ever happened to any of us after that.
Aidan couldn’t be found.”

Lucas’ older brother, Aidan, disappeared without a trace for six days. Now he’s returned home and the story he tells about the time he was missing seems too strange to be true.

“Where were you?
Nobody’s going to believe me.
I’ll believe you.
I don’t think you can.”

I loved the interactions between the brothers as they navigated the suspicion surrounding Aidan’s story and the people who felt they deserved an explanation because they’d helped search for him. Lucas’ initial disbelief and his subsequent wavering between thinking Aidan’s story is impossible and wondering if it actually could be true was realistic, especially given Aidan’s propensity for telling his younger brother some far-fetched things in the past.

I liked Lucas, especially appreciating how much he wanted to believe what his brother was telling him and doing his best to protect him. I thought it was particularly appropriate that Lucas was studying Roanoke at school during the time immediately after Aidan’s return.

My favourite character was Aunt Brandi, whose wisdom and compassion made me wish she was my Aunt. I definitely wanted to spend more time with her. She managed to snag the best lines. I loved this one:

“It stretches credibility - but life stretches credibility all the time, to the point that credibility doesn’t have much credibility left, you know?”

I really wanted to learn more about the place Aidan spent his time while he was missing. Previous books I’ve read that feature portals spend a significant amount of time world building and oftentimes I’ve been able to travel to far flung worlds with the main character. But that’s not what this book is about; Aidan’s story is about the after.

“Aidan was no longer missing, but now it was like the answers to his disappearance were missing instead.”

What happens when you return from a place that others find unbelievable? How will your family, friends and the wider community respond to you? How will you adapt once again to this world, knowing you can’t return to the one you’ve so recently lived in? How do you do this life after experiencing another?

The entire time I was reading I kept thinking this is the perfect gateway book to Seanan McGuire’s ‘Wayward Children’ series. As Aidan attempted to reacclimate himself to his life at home, I found myself wanting to refer him to Eleanor West's School for Wayward Children, a place where his experience would be believed and the complicated feelings he had about his return validated.

I only had a couple of nitpicks, but none of them prevented me from loving this book. While Lucas and Aidan’s relationship was both endearing and believable, they tended to speak as though they were older than 11 and 12. There was never any explanation provided for why Aidan described the maddoxes differently throughout the book.

While I understood his reasons for doing so, I was disappointed when Lucas made a decision on Aidan’s behalf towards the end of the book. I’d love to say more, but spoilers. I wanted Aidan to make that decision for himself, though.

Food I craved while reading: cinnamon rolls.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.

I am absolutely in love with this book. I expected it would be a fun read but I was blown away by how incredible it was. While it is marketed as a Middle-Grade book, the story is so well-written and nuanced that it will appeal to children and adults alike.

Discovering hidden worlds is a well explored trope in children's stories and YA novels, from the Narnia series, to Inkheart to The Magicians for older readers, there are books a-plenty that follow plucky young adventurers through fantasy realms after they mysteriously vanish from our reality. There is a comforting familiarity to these stories that draws us back again and again, even if they are, in essence, just variations on the same theme. Then comes David Levithan, ready to flip the whole paradigm on its head.

The realm of Aveinieu and Aidan's journey there, is not in fact, central to the tale. Rather, Levithan focuses on the emotional toll that is experienced by those left behind and the general upheaval that accompanies Aidan's reintegration into his life when he reappears just as suddenly as he had left. The story is told from the perspective of Aidan's younger brother Lucas, who keenly observes the reactions of everyone around him as he struggles with his own complex feelings. While others pressure Aidan for details about his disappearance, Lucas approaches his brother with a touching level of compassion, choosing to suspend disbelief so that he can offer support.

The book features excellent explorations of trust, betrayal, family, public scrutiny, and the fine distinction between what is true and what is real. I definitely recommend this book to readers of all ages! Fantastic read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing this ARC.

4/5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc!

Loved it and i look forward to reading more from the author!

Thank you Netgalley and Text Publishing for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As it always happens with every book I read by David Levithan, I was hooked from page 1 and I just couldn’t stop reading or thinking about this story, every new line lured me in and pushed me to read more.

I devoured this book in just 2 days!

I loved everything about this story, I seriously couldn’t pin point one thing I wished was different. As usual Levithan’s world building and character making is spectacular, his writing style is immaculate and he has a way with words that just makes every story so good you feel like you’re part of it.

This book made me think a lot: about the stories we tell and the support we get and give people, about friendship and family, about sometimes wishing we were somewhere else while we’re stuck in this world and at the same time wouldn’t want it any other way.

As usual David Levithan has written a brilliant story full of amazing characters (YES for the trans and gay rep!), the kind of story that stays with you long after you turned the last page, the kind of story you wish would never end.

Aidan has been missing for days. There is no sign of him anywhere in the house, and everyone in town has been searching for him. One evening, his brother, Lucas, finds him in the attic but doesn't know how he got there. Aidan tells his story, but nobody believes him. Lucas tries to figure out what happened to Aidan, and the truth of where he went may just be out of this world.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. is the first David Levithan book I have ever picked up, and I absolutely loved it! This middle grade novel has a sprinkle of fantasy mixed in with contemporary and mysterious elements that usually draw me to books in the first place. Aidan and Lucas were both great characters, and I liked how the story was told from Lucas's perspective. The book had me hooked from the first page, and I was able to fly through it in just a few hours. Middle grade is a genre that I have recently learned I adored, and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to read this book and grow my love for the genre even more.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan! I can't wait to see this book in stores.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a fantastically written book and an interesting read. Just shy of touching, the whimsy was kept to a minimum which went well with the almost solemn tone of the book. The question in my mind throughout was not “is the protagonist’s reason for his disappearance true?” rather it was “how will everyone move on from this?”.

It was extremely interesting to see how the protagonist’s relationships where affected by the story behind his disappearance. I would say that it did seem as though everyone reacted as little too cordially to it, only just having quietly curious manners or persisting for a bit and then respectfully giving space. More intense confrontations could’ve occurred to really take the book to another level.

The ending was not really what I expected and there was one moment I would love to change. I guess the moment at the end with the protagonist’s brother and the dresser emphasises even more that this book is less about where Aidan went and more about how he moved on from it. That moment seemed to eclipse the whole book and even though overall the book was good, it could’ve been so much better if that moment was changed in really any way.