Book Review: Where Things Come Back (Printz Award Winner)

Bibliography

Whaley, John Corey. Where Things Come Back. New York: Atheneum for Young Readers, 2011. Print.

Summary

Cullen Witter is a 17-year old boy that lives in the small town of Lily, Arkansas who typically sees the negative side of people. The only people he seems to genuinely like are his 15-year old brother, Gabriel, and his best friend, Lucas Cader. Despite the many struggles the people in Lily face, they find hope in the sighting of what was once an extinct woodpecker, but at the same time, Cullen is coping with the sudden and mysterious disappearance of his brother, which gives him an even more jaded and hopeless view of the world. In the end, do things, like brothers, and hope, come back?  

Critical Analysis

In Where Things Come Back, Whaley uses the overlying theme of finding hope to deliver a story that will appeal to the young adult audience. Cullen dreams of being the hero and getting girl, but he never wants to be the victim or have anybody feel pity for him. But he also is realistic about his life, even though he has a negative view of people. To contrast Cullen, Lucas and Gabriel are positive people that others want to be around, and when Gabriel disappears, Cullen is unsure if he will ever have hope again. When the extinct woodpecker is sighted nearby, Cullen has to decide if it is better to have no hope or false hope, and what, if anything is the true meaning of life.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Where Things Come Back is a Michael L. Printz Award Winner for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. The novel has strengths that make it a good literary choice. Cullen, the main character, in his pessimistic state is a relatable character for young adult audiences, especially boys. He has a very real worldview where he won’t always get the girl and bad things will happen in life. Even though the story was somewhat depressing, in the end, a glimmer of hope prevailed, which is something most readers want to believe. One of the weaknesses of the novel is that some young adult readers may not get the metaphors of the story, like the woodpecker. It is especially difficult to follow the Book of Enoch storyline, even though it was a crucial part of the story.