(David Levithan/Jill De Haan)
Do you trust your sibling? I'm not sure I did all the time as a kid, and that sentiment was probably returned. There was always the undercurrent of that familial rivalry, manifested as "I love my sibling, but I'm also going to make sure they always get in trouble instead of me." So just a little bit of distrust, perhaps. But that small-scale type of friction is nothing compared to what transpires between brothers Aidan and Lucas.
David Levithan gets the action rolling quickly in his middle-grade debut, The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother). Older brother Aidan mysteriously vanishes on page one, disappearing overnight and leaving behind panicked family and friends. It's got all the trappings of a thriller or caper, but just as quickly as Aidan is gone, he returns. Levithan cleverly flips the story on its head, transforming a run-of-the-mill mystery tale into a close exploration of siblings bonds or trust.
For Aidan didn't just disappear. He tells his brother and the police that he escaped through a dresser in the attic to a magical realm known as Aveinieu, a world full of royal blue, diamond-shaped leaves and fireflies that can glow in a multitude of colors. But Lucas has heard Aidan's lies before, and is hesitant to trust him. And therein lies the rub.
The mystery, however, is just the background to Levithan's tale. The main focus of the book is how Lucas handles this new relationship with his brother. how he can trust this "new" Aidan that suddenly reappeared in the attic after days away? Does it matter whether the world of Avienieu is a real, Narnia-esque realm or simply a bastion of escapism á la Bridge to Terabithia?
Lucas and Aidan's relationship is under the microscope, and at its core, The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. is about whether Lucas can embrace the new brother that's emerged from this ordeal. I won't spoil the mystery for any eager readers, but can end on the fact that Levithan deftly weaves a narrative of fraternal bonds that's definitely worth a read.
Thank you to Cotton Tails, the place to find unique children's clothing and shoes, found in the Laurelwood Shopping Center, and Literacy Mid-South for sponsoring this children’s book review! Learn more about the various programs offered by Literacy Mid-South by visiting their site literacymidsouth.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @literacymidsouth.