Sort of a sleeper. At first, there appear to be two unrelated story lines in alternating chapters. But when the story line in the odd-numbered chapters starts to get bogged down, the story line in the even-numbered chapters starts to pick up and connects the two story lines, with a final chapter that brings both story lines together.
Cullen Witter is a high school senior in the small town of Lily, Ak. Like most small towns in our country, nothing much happens there - until it does. Cullen's cousin overdoses, the town's people search for an extinct woodpecker supposedly seen by a visitor and his brother vanishes. Cullen has an average life and parents but a not-so-average younger brother named Gabriel, who does his own thing. While both are good students Cullen thinks his brother is a genius. He himself just wants to be accepted.
Like most teenagers trying to find himself, he is interested in girls but the disappearance of his brother overshadows all. Consumed by grief, his senior year becomes unimportant. Not studies. Not college entrance. Not even friends except for Lucas, his bestie. Even his parents are lost. Father posts flyers and sets up a web site and mother is so distraught she is nearing mental breakdown.
While Cullen is the chief narrator of his story when another story emerges about a young man in Africa who has become discouraged with his religious mission. Distributing food with prayer to save people is just not enough. Continuing the book one finds the two merging in an unexpected way. And, of course, will Gabriel be found or come home? Check out this engaging read for yourself. I liked it!
Like most teenagers trying to find himself, he is interested in girls but the disappearance of his brother overshadows all. Consumed by grief, his senior year becomes unimportant. Not studies. Not college entrance. Not even friends except for Lucas, his bestie. Even his parents are lost. Father posts flyers and sets up a web site and mother is so distraught she is nearing mental breakdown.
While Cullen is the chief narrator of his story when another story emerges about a young man in Africa who has become discouraged with his religious mission. Distributing food with prayer to save people is just not enough. Continuing the book one finds the two merging in an unexpected way. And, of course, will Gabriel be found or come home? Check out this engaging read for yourself. I liked it!
