Fadeaway

December 1, 2020

Gr 8 Up-A compassionate look at the opioid crisis with a compelling opening that will hook readers right away. White high school basketball star Jake has just regained consciousness and is tied up, exhausted, and covered in vomit. He's not sure where he is or why he's in this state. The story is told in first person flashbacks by some of the most important people in Jake's life-a girlfriend, a best friend, a brother, and a coach. To them, he has simply vanished, but as the novel unfolds, it is revealed that some characters know more about his disappearance than it initially appears. Jake's brother's pages are written in eloquent verse, propelling the story and slowly unraveling Jake's, and his own, dark secrets. Billed as a mystery, this is a bit of a slow burn, but the characters have enough voice and heart to make up for that. VERDICT This timely novel has a place on most high school library shelves.-Mandy Laferriere, Fowler M.S., Frisco, TX

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2021
How does a beloved high school basketball star with a seemingly bright future disappear without a trace on the very night he helps his team win a major game? Jake is that kid, perfect in almost every way. Basketball star? Check. Great older brother? Check. Caring boyfriend? Check. Kind to others? Check. He seems to have it all. He also has secrets--many secrets, dark secrets, secrets that could not only tear his world apart, but also the lives of those he cares about the most. As his disappearance is publicized, those closest to Jake--his mother and younger brother, Luke; his best friend, Kolt; his teammate Seth; as well as his coach--all have stories to tell and secrets of their own. From the beginning, the police peg Jake's disappearance as a simple runaway case, but the more they learn from Jake's friends and family, the more the mystery deepens. Readers will find the story easy to follow, as Vickers uses good storytelling interspersed with poetry and police statements, with chapters written from different characters' points of view. As Jake's secrets begin to unravel, so, to the surprise of many, do those of the people closest to him, leading to a gripping final sequence of events. This quick and engaging read, which deals with serious issues, has strong reader appeal. Most characters present as White. Will keep readers on the edges of their seats. (author's note, resources) (Mystery. 14-18)

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