Things You Can't Say
By:
Nothing is going right this summer for Drew. And after losing his dad unexpectedly three years ago, Drew knows a lot about things not going right. First, it’s the new girl Audrey taking over everything at the library, Drew’s sacred space. Then it’s his best friend, Filipe, pulling away from him. But most upsetting has to be the mysterious man who is suddenly staying with Drew’s family. An old friend of Mom’s? Drew isn’t buying that.
With an unlikely ally in Audrey, he’s determined to get to the bottom of who this man really is. The thing is, there are some fears—like what if the person you thought was your dad actually wasn’t—that you can’t speak out loud, not to anyone. At least that’s what Drew thinks.
But then again, first impressions can be deceiving.
Author’s note. Resources.
ISBN: 9781534440975
JLG Release: Jun 2020
Sensitive Areas:
Language: Mild Language; Violence: Suicide Reference/Discussion
Topics:
Loss
, Suicide
, Fathers and sons
, Family life
, Friendship
, Libraries
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Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal
School Library Journal
Three years after his father’s suicide, 12-year-old Drew continues to find comfort spending his summer volunteering in the children’s room of his local library, where Audrey has begun volunteering. But this summer is different. The things he counted on are beginning to feel a bit more uncertain. His best friend, Filipe, seems to be pulling away Three years after his father’s suicide, 12-year-old Drew continues to find comfort spending his summer volunteering in the children’s room of his local library, where Audrey has begun volunteering. But this summer is different. The things he counted on are beginning to feel a bit more uncertain. His best friend, Filipe, seems to be pulling away. And, most threatening of all, Phil, an old friend of his mother’s, arrives on a motorcycle to stay for “a few days.” When Phil begins helping around the house, including making meals for Drew and his younger brother Xander, Drew wants to know more about Phil—and about his own father. Drew’s first-person narration allows readers to experience his conflicting feelings: missing his father while worrying that he may be like him, and “pretending that everything was perfect—fine—when obviously it wasn’t.” With Audrey’s help, Drew begins learning more about Phil’s own complicated story, which leads him to invent a narrative that makes him more confused and angry. When Drew starts to feel overwhelmed, his mother’s and Audrey’s support allows him to express feelings he has been bottling up as he works to accept new realities. Bishop’s emotional novel may provide a way for readers whose lives have been impacted by suicide to navigate a complex topic and will appeal to those who appreciate tales of trauma and healing.
Book Details
ISBN
9781534440975
First Release
June 2020
Genre
Fic
Dewey Classification
F
Trim Size
8 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Page Count
336
Accelerated Reader
Level 4; Points: 8;
Scholastic Reading Counts
N/ALexile
Level 610L
Format
Print Book
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Aladdin
Potentially Sensitive Areas
Language: Mild Language; Violence: Suicide Reference/Discussion
Topics
Loss, Suicide, Fathers and sons, Family life, Friendship, Libraries,
