Where Things Come Back

by John Corey Whaley

Cullen Witter lives in tiny Lily, Arkansas, where there's not much for the locals to do except speculate about the possible return of an extinct woodpecker to their area. His brother Gabriel is his best friend, and together they make fun of their small town and the ridiculous people in it. Then one day, Gabriel disappears, and Cullen's world is turned upside down. Every few chapters we get a glimpse into another young man's life, Benton Sage. At first, the connection isn't clear, but as the novel goes on, the stories intertwine in surprising and amazing ways.

This is truly a book I couldn't wait to get back to. When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it. This is Whaley's first book, and I can't wait to see what he does next.