THE SHAPE OF LOST THINGS, by Sarah Everett, HarperCollins, Oct. 22, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl must deal with the aftermath of her brother’s kidnapping in The Shape of Lost Things, a middle-grade novel by Sarah Everett.
Skye Nickson’s world changed forever when her dad went on the run with her brother, Finn. It’s been four years without Finn’s jokes, four years without her father’s old soul music, and four years of Skye filling in as Rent-a-Finn on his MIA birthdays for their mom. Finn’s birthday is always difficult, but at least Skye has her best friends, Reece and Jax, to lean on, even if Reece has started acting too cool for them.
But this year is different because after Finn’s birthday, they get a call that he’s finally been found. Tall, quiet, and secretive, this Finn is nothing like the brother she grew up with. He keeps taking late-night phone calls and losing his new expensive gifts, and he doesn’t seem to remember any of their inside jokes or secrets.
As Skye tries to make sense of it all through the lens of her old Polaroid camera, she starts to wonder: Could this Finn be someone else entirely? And if everyone else has changed, does it mean that Skye has to change too? —Synopsis provided by HarperCollins
One of any author’s greatest hopes is that the book they write will appeal and resonate with their audience. What makes a book special, is when appeal extends beyond that group.
And that’s what The Shape of Lost Things does. As an adult, I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one sitting. And I would happily read it again alongside my 10-year-old.
Author Sarah Everett has a true gift. Her writing is heartfelt and honest. And her exploration of family, loss and change is exceptional.
The story unfolds in first person, with Skye sharing her innermost feelings. And though her situation (kidnapped brother) isn’t typical, kids will relate to feelings, goals, fears, etc.
The Shape of Lost Things is an excellent read.
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