Where Things Come Back

Cullen, a high school senior, lives in small-town Lily, Arkansas where the most exciting thing to happen is the possible discovery of an extinct woodpecker, but Cullen’s mundane life changes quickly when his younger brother Gabriel vanishes. As the family tries to carry on in the wake of Gabriel’s disappearance, the suicide of a young missionary sets Cullen’s roommate Cabot on a collision course with Cullen’s family. This relatable coming-of-age story for grades 10-12 is suitable for literature circles or independent study and explores individual and social construction of identity, hope, self-discovery, and crisis of faith. Social considerations noted.