Book Review: The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

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The Leaving
Author: Tara Altebrando
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery, Contemporary
Released: June 7, 2016
Review Source: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Six were taken. Eleven years later, five come back--with no idea of where they've been.

Eleven years ago, six kindergarteners went missing without a trace. After all that time, the people left behind moved on, or tried to.

Until today. Today five of those kids return. They're sixteen, and they are . . . fine. Scarlett comes home and finds a mom she barely recognizes, and doesn't really recognize the person she's supposed to be, either. But she thinks she remembers Lucas. Lucas remembers Scarlett, too, except they're entirely unable to recall where they've been or what happened to them. Neither of them remember the sixth victim, Max. He doesn't come back. Everyone wants answers. Most of all Max's sister Avery, who needs to find her brother--dead or alive--and isn't buying this whole memory-loss story.

Six kindergartners go missing on the first day of school and are never seen or heard from for years. Then, one day, five return. Teenagers. All with their memories wiped. Neither of them with any trace to the sixth missing kid, Max, or with where they've been or what has happened to them for the past eleven years.

Ok, let's be real  here, who doesn't love a mystery? Any mystery. I think we all do. We all want to play detective and solve a question. That's why I think this book is for everyone! A part from it's selling point (being a mystery) The Leaving is a good read with a great set of characters and a solid plot.

The book doesn't follow all six of the kids it only follows Scarlett, Lucas, and Avery. Avery wasn't one of the missing, she is Max's sister. Max is the kid that doesn't return and no one knows why, no one has any answers for Avery. Throughout the story they try to solve the big mystery. Of course they want to know what's happened to them in the past eleven years.  Tara Altebrando does an amazing job at keeping you guessing until the very end. I could not figure it out myself and I loved it! Now, I will be honest that when the mystery was solved it was very anticlimactic for me. BUT that is only because I had my hopes set on something else entirely and once I knew what happened I was a tiny bit disappointed. So, I will say go into this book open minded and don't try to guess the ending.

Overall The Leaving keeps you glued to it's pages and you'll finish it in one sitting. And, shout out to that amazing cover! The title and the image had me sold before I'd even read the description. If you read The Leaving let me know your thoughts! I'm dying to talk to someone about this amazing book!