The Leaving

By: Tara Altebrando

Narrated by: Karissa Vacker

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

Eleven years ago, six kindergartners 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 returned. They're 16, 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 - the only one who hasn't come back. Which leaves Max's sister, Avery, wanting answers.

She wants to find her brother - dead or alive - and isn't buying this whole memory-loss story. But as details of the disappearance begin to unfold, no one is prepared for the truth. This unforgettable novel with its rich characters, high stakes, and plot twists will leave listeners breathless.

©2016 Tara Altebrando (P)2018 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"This is no mere thriller; folded into this compulsively readable work are thought-provoking themes....Teens who enjoy engrossing, contemplative titles such as Adam Silvera's More Happy Than Not will devour this insightful musing on memory and identity." (School Library Journal)

Plot Twist

I really wanted to love this but unfortunately the plot twist was lack luster. The main story had so much potential but the ending felt so out of place compared to the rest of the story. It was rushed and almost seemed like an after thought after writing the rest of the book. I enjoyed the book very much until the ending.

Confusing!

Personally I do not think I've ever had such an issue with reading. However, this book was very confusing. Moreover, the audio may have made it confusing. There was not much in voice change between characters. Hopefully the audio gets changed, and is less confusing to others.

LOVED IT!!

I highly suggest this mystery to anyone! It keeps you on your toes and had you wanting to stay up at ungodly hours and read until you’re eyes are too tired. I love this book.

Narration

My only wish for this audio book would be that they would have used different narrators for each of the characters. It would have been a little easier to follow.

Lackluster ending, bland characters

The premise of the novel and the overarching mystery is all that kept me going. However, the ending was unsatisfying and overall this book is forgettable. I found every character to be extremely irritating and 95% of all dialogue was one sided conversations where one character would ask the other a string of rambling questions and the only response by whoever they were talking to was “I don’t know”. It was very infuriating to sit through and in general I found every character to be unlikeable.

not much to it

one big plot with little going on between beginning and end. I could have read the first 20 pages and last 50 and that told the story. the story in general wasn't great either.

wished for a better explained ending

I couldn't put this book down. kinda disappointing ending though. was hoping for more too

This book was just...ok

I feel like this book had a big build up to a pretty insignificant ending. I also felt like they referred back to the "memories" so much that it kind of got overplayed and I was just ready for something exciting to happen, but it never really came. You find out what happened in the end, but it never really answers any questions that developed throughout the story, at least not in any detail. I also thought it was odd that five kids returned, but it's written from the perspective of only two kids and a sister. Overall, this wasn't a favorite of mine. I finished it because I had already spent so much time listening to it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

boring

I got the book because my sister her daughter and her granddaughter's read it. my sister and I did not care for it did not like it at all I only finished the book Because I had paid for it.

heading optional not really

long story with somewhat predictable ending. and you need 15 words for this review. which I like stories that get to the point