Afterward

August 22, 2016
In a sensitive portrait of trauma and recovery, a kidnapping kindles an unlikely friendship. Caroline Anderson's 11-year-old younger brother, Dylan, disappeared from in front of the family's Texas home only to be found four days later in a man's apartment. Dylan isn't the only one there: also present is 15-year-old Ethan Jorgenson, who vanished four years earlier. Dylan, who has autism, can't say much about what went on during his brief time with his captor, but Ethan's head is full of painful buried memories. Alternating between Caroline and Ethan's perspectives, Mathieu (Devoted) explores both the effects of traumaâit's clear without being explicit that Ethan suffered some form of sexual abuseâand the role that class plays in recovery, with Ethan's parents able to pay for extensive therapy. Drawn to each other, Caroline and Ethan develop a bond that's initially music-centric and becomes something deeper. It's a fully realized story of what happens after the news cameras fade away and the real work of moving forward begins. Ages 12âup. Agent: Kerry Sparks, Levine Greenberg Rostan.

June 15, 2016
Two teens drawn together by tragedy navigate an unusual friendship.Caroline's little brother, Dylan, was kidnapped from their hometown of Dove Lake, Texas, and held for four days. When he is found, there's another boy there: Ethan, who was also abducted from Dove Lake, four years ago. Once he's home, Dylan has difficulty recovering due to his autism and his family's inability to pay for therapy, so Caroline goes to Ethan, hoping he might tell her about what Dylan experienced. But due to his years of trauma, many of Ethan's memories are blocked--and uncovering those memories is only possible with the help of his therapist and the love of his parents. Slowly, a friendship grows between the two white teens due to their shared love of music. But when Ethan realizes his role in Dylan's kidnapping, it threatens everything he has. The differing socio-economic backgrounds of working-class Caroline and well-to-do Ethan are well-portrayed, and Mathieu sensitively shows how a family's wealth can be an additional barrier to recovery for trauma victims. The author wisely keeps romance mostly out of Caroline and Ethan's friendship--a drunken kiss leads to one of Ethan's breakthroughs--and sensitively handles the details of Ethan's abduction. Compelling. (Fiction. 14-18)

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Starred review from August 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Kidnapped 11-year-old Dylan Anderson has been found after a harrowing four days; along with him is Ethan Jorgensen, 15, who has been missing four years-from the same neighborhood. Caroline, Dylan's 16-year-old sister, is desperate to help her brother with autism work through his trauma, but he only seems to be getting worse. She wishes her parents would see that Dylan needs professional help, but they are too busy fighting to notice. Caroline seeks out the only other person who might know why her brother is so hard to reach-Ethan. The author of Devoted and The Truth About Alice writes another electrifying tale of self-discovery and the powerful effect relationships have on the human mind. Mathieu takes great effort to point out the complicated consequences of blaming the victim through Ethan's capable psychiatrist, Dr. Greenberg, and maintains the most important message of the book-the abuser is always the one to blame. She also switches the perspectives between Ethan and Caroline so readers can empathize with both aspects of tragedy: the victims and their families. Each character is portrayed with an aching sincerity throughout the novel, and as in real life, the flaws and quirks imbued in each person's struggle with their lot in life make for a compelling story. VERDICT In a social networking world where debates about abuse and victimization are widespread, this is an important addition to any YA collection.-Michael Marie Jacobs, Darlington School, GA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2016
Grades 8-11 With her usual knack for thoughtful, nuanced, character-driven takes on difficult subjects, Mathieu tackles kidnapping and PTSD. Alternating chapters from Ethan (a kidnapping survivor who was imprisoned for four years) and Caroline (whose autistic younger brother was held captive with Ethan for four days) chart the families' reactions after the rescue. The kidnapper shot himself rather than yield to police, but the damage inflicted on both boys and their loved ones inevitably builds up post-rescue before turning the corner toward health. It doesn't help that their small Texas town turns an inquisitive, well-meaning eye on the two families, or that Caroline's parents' marriage, never strong, unravels under the stress. However, Caroline and Ethan, despite wildly different backgrounds, discover a common ground of music, and their garage jam sessions build a friendship that blossoms into something more. With sympathetic and believably flawed characters of all ages, a great cover that effectively portrays Ethan's lost innocence, and terrific psychiatric treatment scenes, it's both a page-turner and a thought-provoking source for discussion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)