I love this book - just enough magic and mystery to keep it interesting without crossing into actual fantasy - pacing and dialogue was perfect. The relationships within Aidan and Lucas’s family feel extremely realistic, and Aunt Brandi is excellent.
This would be a fantastic book club selection for 5th grade +.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

When Lucas's brother Aidan disappears for almost a week and then suddenly reappears in the family's attic, claiming to have been residing in a magical world, Lucas is not sure what to think. Suddenly, all of the community's attention is on Aidan and Lucas's family and they must deal with the repercussions of Aidan's disappearance. When a tragedy occurs and a child is the primary victim, there often isn't a lot of attention paid to the siblings of the victim. In this story, author David Levithan focuses on Aidan's brother and his struggle with his sibling's disappearance. With a touch of magical realism, Levithan tells an often untold story in a way that children will be able to relate to. Recommend!

The story is complex, but easy to read and understand. Truly well written and not "dumbed down" because it is a middle grade book. Definitely marketed for middle grade, but I think everyone would enjoy this story. Would also probably be a good read aloud for younger kids. An exceptional book - will definitely be purchasing this one for my middle school.

11-year-old Lucas has a close relationship with his brother 12-year-old brother, Aidan. As is typical with siblings of this age, they tease each other mercilessly, but they really love each other and can't imagine life without the other. One day, Aidan disappears, leaving no trace or evidence behind. Six days later he returns to the attic, seemingly out of nowhere, in his pajamas, looking dazed. His explanation for where he's been is completely unbelievable to his parents and the police. . The only one who believes him is his brother Lucas. So, Aidan slowly begins to tell Lucas more about the time he spent in this mystical world he found inside an old dresser in the attic and the discoveries he made there.

I found this book a sheer delight to read! The pacing was fantastic, I literally could not put the book down and read it in one sitting. The chapters are short but meaningful, not a one is wasted. Character development was top notch! I could feel the bond that the two brothers had and how Aidan's disappearance (and subsequent explanation) strained the family and their standing in the community.

Despite reading a lot of "portal" fantasy (stories about hidden/alternate worlds, in the vein of Narnia) in the last few years, I don't think I've read one from this perspective—or, strangely, for this, the original Narnia-reading age group. It was really interesting and unique to have the story told from the perspective of a brother and a family left outside of a singular experience, and despite being clear that the experience of Aidan S. is not a metaphor, it was wonderfully allegorical.

I can't stop thinking about this book. While the closest reference I have is the Chronicles of Narnia, this is set firmly in contemporary time which makes it a little bit of a mindwarp to imagine that Aidan physically travels to a fantasy world via a cupboard in his attic. The story begins with Aidan missing, but soon he returns to the astonishment of everyone, including his younger brother who finds him. Skillfully intertwining tidbits about this other world with the reality of the world we live in, Levithan leaves the reader wanting more of the fantasy. I wish Aidan could somehow bring lessons of the other world and apply them to his world. A book that will stay in your thoughts long after you finish.

David Levithan's first middle grade did not disappoint, although I'm not sure exactly who it's for. It's not quite a fantasy, more of a psychological thriller to me. But very interesting!

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. is a wonderful mystery. Aidan has an experience that he feels like no one will understand. Slowly, he tells his brother more and more about what happened. Everyone is interested. Where was he? Why did he disappear? What's the real story? This one keeps you turning pages!

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother) has an intriguing premise: Lucas's 12 year old brother, Aidan, disappears without a trace. For six days, the whole town looks for him everywhere. Then suddenly, Aidan returns, with an impossible to believe story about where he has been. Is he telling the truth? Or covering something up? Readers will race through this clever book to find out the answers.
And the answers? Well, some of them are left up to the reader to decide, which may frustrate some. I enjoyed the story and would recommend to my middle grader readers. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

I’m not sure how to categorize this book as I prepare to share it with students. It’s definitely a mystery; definitely fantasy. I wish a few more characters had been developed more deeply, and I wish I had been able to learn more about the fantastical elements and setting. I found myself wanting the author to “spend more time” there. Not what I expected, but I’m certain it will find an audience.

This is a perfect light fantasy-realistic fiction readers will enjoy the missing-person mystery without being put off by the fantastical elements, while fantasy fans will enjoy the magic.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother) by David Levithan

I enjoyed this book a lot. I particularly liked that the story was told by Lucas, Aidan’s brother. I loved the relationship of the brothers as well as the relationship they had with their aunt and friends at school. I really appreciated the relationships in this story most.

I wish there were more details about Aidan’s time away. I knew it was true right away, but as a reader I still kept waiting to see if there was something else that happened to Aidan. I appreciate the closure at the end, but it wasn’t enough for me. I realize I’m an adult reader, but I just wanted a bit more. I liked what I read but was left wanting or needing more to feel like the story was complete or more satisfying for me. It was well-written though and I appreciate the advance e-copy very much.

Wow! I really loved this little book. It was such an interesting perspective on the "kid travels to a magical world" plot. I loved Aidan and Lucas's relationship, and I loved how the book still left you with a few questions at the end. Will definitely be recommending to kids!

David Levithan has struck gold with his first middle grade novel. Lucas is 11 and shares a room with 12 year old brother Aidan. One night Aidan goes missing. For six days life stops as everyone searches for him. When Lucas finds Aidan in the attic, he has changed. Lucas longs for the relationship he had with his brother and had taken for granted. He must decide whether or not to believe Aidan’s story which will make all the difference.

Lucas narrates. At the beginning, his sentences are short and somewhat choppy and almost frenetic. Levithan captures the voice and mind of an 11 year old boy in trauma as he struggles through the loss and then return of Aidan. I can see my middle school students loving this book. It’s creepy without being too scary. I predict a waiting list for this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I think this will appeal to tweens and younger teens. There is just enough action to move it along at a good pace. The parents are a bit too good to be true, but I think they will appeal to young readers. I will be recommending this often to boys and girls.

Let me start with the fact that I have loved everything that I have ever read of Daid Levithan’s. Whether stand-alone or in collaboration. He has an honest straightforward style that makes his characters believable and understandable. I could not wait to read his first middle grade undertaking. I was not disappointed.

This is the story of Aiden and his Narnia reminiscent disappearance - but entirely from this side of the wardrobe. He is gone for 6 days and returns, reluctantly, just as suddenly as he left. It throws his family, friends and community into an uproar. How do you deal with a missing child who comes back with a tale that is unbelievable and can’t be shared? What if the child was a bit untruthful to begin with - the boy who cried wolf if you will. This story explores Aiden upon his return and his relationship with his parents, friends and primarily his brother. It is reminiscent of wonderful fantasy adventures, but still stays grounded in the present.

I will definitely recommend this for my middles and purchase when i t becomes available. It is wonderful on it’s own, but will also serve as a gateway novel to introduce fantasy. Thank you NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for allowing me to review the ARC.

A wonderful read for young adult/middle grades readers. David Levithan is a favorite of mine and this author’s work in this book stellar. Strong characterization and a nice of balance of lingering questions throughout the story make this an entertaining read for young readers, and older ones, too.

I devoured this one in a single sitting. The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother) by David Levithan is the book I did not know I needed.

The story opens when Aidan S. has gone missing. His parents are distraught. His brother, Lucas, is beside himself. The town is pitching in to help search. As the days pass, the outcome looks more and more grim.

And then Aidan shows up in the attic, wearing the same pajamas he had on when he left, and everyone wants answers. Is he alright? Where was he? What made him disappear?

Although Aidan's story is the driving force behind this novel, it is really Lucas's story readers enter. When Aidan returns with an explanation beyond belief, Lucas is left to decide what really matters.

Levithan hints at classic tales, but his perspective is uniquely fresh and inventive. Readers will be left thinking about what really makes a story true.

I am looking forward to adding this one to my classroom library shelf and sharing it with readers. Thanks to Random House Children's Books and NetGalley for a free, temporary, digital review copy.

This was a great middle grade debut by David Levithan! Aiden has been gone for 6 days and mysteriously reappears in the attic, where his brother finds him. Although Aiden’s story seems unlikely, Lucas never leaves his brother’s side. This is a great book about brothers and their friendship, and believing in yourself even when it’s hard. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

I've been a huge fan of the Wayward Children series and was proud to be part of the Alex Award committees that gave the author the first two consecutive awards. So when David Levithan (another favored author) creates a semi-similar book? Well... of course I want to read it. Now.

Told from the perspective of Aiden's younger brother, Lucas, we start with a missing child. Aiden has somehow disappeared from their house with no sign of where he might have gone. And then, just as suddenly, he's back, claiming to have been in another world accessed via the dresser in the attic. No Narnia there, but another place with green skies and maddoxes and few humans.

Rather than take the POV of the person kicked out of the doorway back into his "normal" life, following that of the brother is a great choice. Clearly anyone who finds that doorway into another world has experiences we can't understand but what about those left behind? or those who are still there when they return? What is their story like? How do they cope with the public questions and the suspicions? This is that book.

eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.