The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. Is a middle grade book and teaches them some important lessons.
Lucus brother Aidan goes missing the whole town searches for him. After six days Lucus finds him in the attic which had already been searched!
Where did he really go? He does not want anyone to know, so what does it mean?
The story is about the boys disappearance but also the strong bond the family have.

Thanks to Netgallery and the publishers for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a full, frank and honest review of this book.

When Aidan disappears out of thin air the community bands together to search for him. With no explanation, he suddenly reappears in his attic 6 days later. Aidan will not talk about what happened with anyone but his brother, Lucas. A known storyteller, Aidan weaves an exciting, but unbelievable tale of adventure in another land.

This is a fun middle grade novel that makes you keep guessing - what really did happen to Aidan S?

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. is a book where an 11-Year-Old boy Aidan suddenly disappears out of the blue. And then he finally reappears out of the blue. His whole family is traumatized because of this experience, but it is still not clear where did Aidan go?

Right from the very beginning, I was hooked by the book. The narration was spectacular and I loved the plot. It was the plot that had lured me in to read this book.

However, I just didn’t feel that I could connect with the characters. I was liked Lucas, but Aidan and other supporting characters just didn’t do it for me. I feel it is because of the lack of buildup that I wasn’t able to fully connect and empathize with the characters.

Overall, It is was good. Would pick this up on a rainy day when I have nothing else to read.

This was... fine. I guess. I didn't really find it all that intriguing or mysterious and I fully anticipated Lucas finding Aveinieu himself so there was no shock/plot twist for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Text Publishing for providing me an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

"The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S." is not only about Aidan, who went to a magical world through a wardrobe in his attic. The story is also about his brother and his family, what happens when Aidan's gone, but mostly what happens when he returns talking about blue trees and strange animals. Sadly, it wasn't well-developed enough for me, but it's an interesting and unique story.

I was first intrigued by this book for two reasons. Firstly, it's by David Levithan, and I remember enjoying his books a lot when I was younger. Secondly, it seemed like it would have a unique point of view that is not really shown in your typical portal fantasy story, kind of like the "Wayward Children" series by Seanan McGuire, which is a series I really enjoyed.

And I was right: it had a unique point of view, and that's what I mostly enjoyed about this story. I really liked Lucas, and it was interesting to read how he was dealing with his brother's disappearance, and then his reappearance. He just wanted to help his brother, he wanted to believe him, but he also had some feelings of resentment, which I think is completely understandable, given the situation. Nonetheless, he defends and helps his brother the whole time and this bond, this relationship, made my heart warm.

However, I felt like the other relationships in this book weren't quite as well-developed or believable. For a book so focused about family, it's sad that the parents and the parent's bond with their children were just kind of there. We do get the feelings of desperation, anger, helplessness that Aidan and Lucas parents feel about their son's disappearance and the story he's telling, but we don't get much more than that. I wanted more deep conversations, I wanted to understand where the parents came from in regards to some of their decisions; in short, I wanted more development on this familial bond, and how it changed with this crisis.

It was the same with the other side characters. Their aunt Brandi, Aidan's friend Glen, Lucas' friends - we barely get any development on any of them. They were there to play a role, to show more relationships besides the core family, but it was just that.

It didn't help that the story was so quick that it was superficial at times, glossing over some scenes that should have been more developed. Some of the familial scenes felt almost robotic, when they should have brought up some emotion.

However, this is a middle grade story and I'm certainly not the audience this book is aiming for. So, something that felt superficial or lacking for me might be amazing for a 12-year old who wants to go to a magical world of their own. So, I would still recommend this book - it's easy and quick to read, the story is unique, and the brother-brother bond is really well-done, heartwarming and sweet.

+Interesting perspective from the 'kids who are left behind'
-Not actually much going on at all
-Ending felt extremely quick and tried to answer every last question
-Don't know if this is actually a book younger kids would read

Real rating is 3.5 stars, but I chose to round down because I wasn't a fan of the ending at all, which I'll explain more in the review. Overall, I do like what this book was trying to do, and aspects of it definitely worked more for me than I thought they would. However, I'm not sure how much of this had to do with the book itself and how much had to do with my experience to similar stories and connections I already had to related ideas.

Okay so, I love the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. I love the idea of doors that appear to kids when they aren't looking, of the adventures that come at the oddest moment. I love how this series explored the lasting impact of those adventures, especially when those kids are thrown back into their normal world and forced to adapt. This booked played on aspects of that, except the point of view was from someone who didn't go themselves, but saw someone else go. Lucas, after missing his brother for almost a week, finally gets him back, but now Aidan is full of stories of this second life he started to form and live. The position of Lucas was a tough one, he was overjoyed to have this brother back, but could see the sorrow that Aidan carried due to being forced back home. It was an interesting position for the story to take, and I enjoyed how it stopped to make me think about that perspective. While reading Wayward Children, you think about whether you'd enter a door if you came across one, but while reading this book, you consider what it would mean to leave others behind, or be left behind yourself.

However, despite this interesting premise and interesting exploration of adventure and the effects it has on those around you, there wasn't actually much going on. Early on it's clear that this story isn't specifically about where Aidan went, and it also didn't have much to do with trying to get him back to where he belonged (since the argument seemed to lean to the fact that he belonged with his family). Instead, we just see a lot of discussions about how and why Aidan left, if he'd do it again, and other emotional explorations. There's some stuff happening regarding other people's reactions to Aidan's disappearance and story, but even these feel minimal, and are generally quickly resolved with no large impact to the story or Aidan/Lucas's lives. While this is fine in many books and genres, and I like books with a focus on introspection vs. constant action, it makes me wonder how much this book is aimed at kids? I just feel like I wouldn't like this as much if I were younger, and reading books full of quests and magic like Percy Jackson (what I was reading then). Obviously I can't be the final judge of that, kids themselves will have to be, but it's just something that made me wonder.

I also just wasn't a fan of the ending, and that's why I chose to round down in the end. I feel like this book's strength came from some of the what ifs, and not necessarily knowing if Aidan was telling the truth, but trusting him and trusting Lucas to judge and make his own opinion. The ending negated this. I also felt like it tried to tie off the whole book with a nice, neat bow, solidly engraining Aidan back into this world and giving him a whole list of reasons to say, if he were to ever see the door again. I just didn't like that this book took every question that could've made you think after the end, and answered it.

Overall, I did enjoy this, but I'm not quite sure who I'd recommend this too. Maybe it's a good, short story to read alongside stories like the Wayward Children series, to give you another angle on the idea of disappearing kids and magical worlds.

This was a really great mysterious middle-grade story. I liked that the POV is through the brother, not of the boy who disappeared. I think it was an interesting perspective for the book. I liked how the brothers support each other, and I think there's a great message for young readers. I kind of want to visit this world now!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Thank you Net Galley, the author and Text Publishing for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m back at it and reading middle grade again! Oh boy, how I love middle grade books… and this one was no exception.

Aidan disappears for six days. Six days in which his family, friends, police and neighbors frantically look for him. Then he comes back. The story Aidan tells coming back includes unicorns and green skies, and nobody believes him. Aidan’s brother Lucas wants to believe him, but he also knows what the police, their parents and everyone else says about the story: it’s made up to hide the fact that he actually ran away. Lucas gets caught in the middle of navigating Aidan's return and trying to figure out what actually happened, when all he really wants is to go back to normal.

This was just what I wanted it to be and all around a great read! I haven’t read anything from David Levithan before, but I found this very well written and Aidan’s and Lucas’ relationship was just amazing, it felt so real. The magical element that permeates the story felt really welcoming, and it was a delight getting to know the characters while, at the same time, being kind of a heavy read. I think there’s a lot of different, and important, topics being brought up about family, belief, truth and the differences between fantasy and reality. Middle grade books always hit me in a different way than adult or even YA books do, and I think this book can start some great conversations with kids.

I was really excited to read it when I read the title and the blurb of the book. And there is a very exciting line added to the title “as told to his brother” which was more than enough for me to request this book on NetGalley. I had high expectations from the book because it was described in such way.
But when I read it I was so much disappointed. The starting was good. It was all as the title suggested and then after 4-5 chapters we got to know the secret. After that it was just Aidan trying to convince others that the story that he I telling about his disappearance is true. No fun twists and nothing mysterious happened later. The “as told to his brother” part was so unnecessary.
I felt like DNFing it but I didn’t. I had some hope that it would give me some mystery at some point but it was written and executed in such a way that every line was known. There was no surprise factor, just dialogues of shouting and convincing and nothing else. I didn’t DNF it but did not enjoy it either. I feel sad to give it a 2-star rating because I really wanted to be a favourite.

I had no idea what to expect from this novel, and sometimes that’s the best way to start a book, with no expectation.

Aidan disappeared for six days, the whole community were searching for him, and then he just turned up…in the attic of his house…where has he been?

This isn’t really the story of where Aidan was, although we do find out where he was, it’s the story about how everyone else deals with the story he tells them about where he was. You see, Aiden did not run away, he simple walked through the back of a dresser in his attic and ended up in a place called Aveinieu.

Sound familiar? Those of us who grew up reading the Chronicles of Narnia, and the Magic Faraway tree and The Wizard of Oz are no strangers to children having adventures in other worlds. In these stories they have an adventure, come home, and the story ends, we never read about what happened after, and that’s what this story does.

Imagine telling your family and the police that you were in a world where the sky was green, food tasted so much better than here, and there were animals, that were part bear and part ox? It sounds unbelievable, so nobody believes him.

Nobody can understand what it is like to come back to a world that is ‘less’ than where you were, a world that maybe you wanted to stay in.

I really liked this. As I said, I am a reader who has been to Narnia, Oz and up the Faraway Tree, so this twist appeals to me. I am looking forward to sharing this one with schools and seeing what young readers think.

This book is out now, but I would like to thank Net Galley and Text publishing for the review copy prior to publication.

This middle grade novel is told from the perspective of 11 year old Lucas, whose 12 year old brother disappears for 6 days, and when he reappears, says he went through a dresser in their attic to a fantastic world called Aveinieu. (Don’t worry, not a spoiler since this all happens at the very beginning of the book.) But this is not a Narnia-type book. Rather, it’s more an exploration of what happens to the family afterwards, how life goes on after regardless of what happened to Aidan, and the relationship between the brothers, with an undercurrent of mystery. It was a unique story with a very interesting mood and vibe - kind of deep for a middle grade book and definitely a book adults would enjoy too.

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?- Goodreads

I am disappointed in this book, which is unfortunate because I love the author's work. But this book is a children's version/water down version of the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire.

This book lacked creativity, spark and engagement. I'm not even sure if I would have liked it if I didn't read McGuire's series. The book was boring. Nothing happened and if nothing else is made me upset at adults and how they handle situations with children. The assumptions went through the roof and the pressure Aidan went through just to appease adults is horrible.

I didn't like the book and am genuinely shocked by this work.

I enjoy David Levithan's books so I was happy to get this from NetGalley. Being a middle grade book it is definitely a departure from some of his more heavy topics that he delves into in his young adult books. But there is a great story of brothers and supporting each other. Lucas's brother Aidan has disappeared and the whole community comes out in force to look for him. But it is Lucas who find him, strangely enough in their home in the attic. Aidan tells of a crazy experience in a different land with strange creatures. But his parents, the police and especially the community who looked for him have a very hard time believing the story that Aidan tells of where he went. It just couldn't be true. But Lucas sticks by Aidan and supports his story even while he wants more details of the place. I thought it was great the the two brothers had an us against the world type of relationship. I did feel like I wanted more in general from the book as far as details on the land he went to and why it was there. I felt a little unsatisfied as far as the why's go. But overall, I liked the book and could see many kids really enjoying this one.

I was given access to the eARC of this book thanks to the authors, the publisher, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second David Levithan book. This book is a Narnia-esque fantasy/mystery for middle school readers. I was brought up on C.S. Lewis' Narnia books so I bought into this hook, line and sinker. The relationship with the brothers was very well written. This book is a coming of age book, both gentle and sweet but touching on some tough subject matter such as tension in family, school and friendship. But most of all it's about honesty, faith and belief.

3 stars

A quiet story without any huge revelation or twist (aside from the fact that Aidan was in a fantasy world...). I think I would've liked it better with some big revelation rather than the police procedural feel that it had. Lucas is a great, supportive brother, trying to stand by Aidan while the rest of the town and their parents freak out a bit about Aidan's story. The premise will make a good booktalk and an easy sell but I'm not sure the teens will stick with it all the way through.

3.5 rounded up! What a cute story - with some queer rep!

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan is a great blend of mystery (without violence), tests of love and friendship, family dynamics, and inner strength. I really enjoyed the bond between the brothers, Aiden and Lucas, and how love helps you believe in someone unconditionally.

The ending was done perfectly, I thought, as a way to resolve the issue of believability and magic. This middle grade novel is definitely worth a read!

Thanks to Text Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

What i enjoyed about this book is the love lucas has for his brother aidan no matter what he always has his brothers back

-It was not fast-paced, easy to follow and kind of casual which made it a nice change of pace if a book you've read prior was thrilling or heart-breaking.
-Has a magical concept that could be very intriguing for middle-grade kids; told in a very normal, real-life setting which made it more fascinating.
-It allows for children who read this to expand their information and to believe in making the impossible a reality.
-The characters are very well-written and I found it interesting how Levithan wrote it from the perspective of the main characters brother, Lucas.
-By writing it from an 11-year-old's POV, showing how observant kids are and how we normally take for granted how understanding they can be of adult emotions.
-An actual mystery, no violence needed to make the story interesting.
-Levithan mixes contemporary with fantasy in such a breezy way, I loved it.
-The story did lack diversity.
-More for middle-grade kids (10-15) and even fans of Narnia may like it because it gives contemporary books a nice twist

Twelve-year-old Aidan disappeared for six days, leaving his family and town to search for him everywhere. On the sixth day, his brother, Lucas, heard a noise in the attic and went to investigate. He found Aidan lying on the floor, claiming to have returned from a different land called Aveinieu. The problem now is that no adults believe Aidan’s story. Lucas wants to believe his brother’s story but it’s difficult to believe in an impossible story.

This story was an original take on the traditional story of children disappearing into magical lands. There are lots of stories of children who climb through portals to magic lands, such as Narnia and Wonderland. Those stories have been told, but this story tells the family’s perspective of losing the child. Time worked differently in the world Aidan disappeared to, so he was gone for six days in real time but he was in the other land for many weeks.

This story was very fast paced. Aidan returned from his disappearance fairly early in the story, and the rest of it was him trying to convince everyone of what happened to him. It was sad to see how he wasn’t believed because he was a child and it sounded like a made up story, but he insisted it was true. I’d like to believe these kinds of fantasy lands do exist on the other side of wardrobes, to keep the magic alive!

I really enjoyed this story!

Thank you Text Publishing for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read another David Levithan book! The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. is a middle grade book with a fantasy touch. It was interesting!

One day Aidan disappeared. He disappeared for six days. His family and everyone in town were searching for him. But then Aidan reappeared. He told a story that no one believed, except maybe his brother Lucas. People started asking too many questions while Lucas, Aidan and his family were just glad Aidan was back home. But his parents kept trying to make Aidan tell them the truth, what happened?

This was an interesting mystery! I enjoyed it a lot. I wanted more of the story, it felt a bit short but as a middle grade it was a good book! It kept my interest all the time.

The relationship between the brothers was my favorite thing. They're only a year apart, they're different but they're so similar all at once. Their late night conversations felt real, they shared a room, so when the light was out they couldn't see each other but they knew they could talk to each other about anything. It was a beautiful thing to read about.

I wasn't a huge fan of their parents but it was a complicated situation so I get it, they were doing everything they could.

I really liked the ending cause I thought it was going to be one way and it went the other way so that was cool.

I'm really glad I got the chance to read this book.