Friday 18 August 2017

Isabella's Reading Corner: The Disappearances



The Disappearances
Author: Emily Bain Murphy
Publication Date: July 4th 2017
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers




Aila Quinn and her brother Miles are sent to live with the Cliffton family after their mother dies and their father is drafted to fight in the war. While packing to leave, Alia finds a mysterious note recently written by their mother, Juliet. It is attached to a collection of Shakespeare's works and addressed to someone named Stefen. The message reads 'You will find what you asked for within this. I will always love you' and she has signed it 'Viola'. On the train Aila discovers something else. Hidden inside the book is her mother's ring that she never took off. She obviously meant it for Stefen, but why?

Upon arriving in Sterling, an isolated farm town where Aila's mother grew up, Aila and Miles meet the Clifftons, who are warm and welcoming. Matilda Cliffton was Juliet's best friend from childhood and thinks of the children as family. Aila's new room is cheerfully decorated and there is a framed photo of her mother and Matilda when they were school girls, prominently on display. However, Aila quickly notices some strange and unusual things happening around her. There are no mirrors in the bathroom and none of the flowers in the Cliffton's garden have a scent.

It becomes clear to Aila that her mother had secrets. Juliet barely ever spoke of Sterling or her life there. She had strange moods and referred to people in her past, but without detail. As much as Matilda loved Juliet, not everyone in the town was fond of her. There are those who are not happy to have her children there either.

Every seven years things the residents take for granted in life - reflections, colours, even dreams, disappear. Two neighbouring towns are also affected and along with Sterling are referred to as the Sisters. A council was formed and a decision was made to keep the secret of these Disappearances from the rest of the world. This would hopefully protect them from outside elements trying to exploit their afflictions.

Sterling is an odd, mystical place. From the moment they are born, the citizens are unable to see the stars, smell flowers or see themselves in a mirror. Visitors to the town are only affected for as long as they are there. Solutions in the form of crystal dust, pastes and liquids have been created to allow some of the Disappearances to reappear temporarily. Although these 'Variants' are readily available to buy, there also exists a black market for illegal and dangerous ones.

Aila is determined to solve the mystery behind what is happening in Sterling, find out who her mother really was and clear her name. Juliet was the only person who was ever able to completely regain her senses upon leaving a Sister City. Many believed her to be the Catalyst - the original cause of the Disappearances. Is this somehow connected to her relationship with the mysterious Stefen? Aila misses her mother terribly and while she works on the clues her mother left behind, she feels closer to her. 

Aila makes a fine heroine. She is a stubborn, curious and courageous girl with a loving heart. Even though her brother drives her crazy, she cares deeply for him. She performs thoughtful actions to keep the spirit of their mother alive for both of them. With the absence of their parents, she strives to protect Miles emotionally and physically.

The Disappearances made me grateful for the simplest pleasures. It is a thrilling book full of secrets and surprises. Recommended, especially to readers who enjoy mysteries, dark fairy tales and magical stories.


From the publisher:
What if the ordinary things in life suddenly…disappeared?

Aila Quinn’s mother, Juliet, has always been a mystery: vibrant yet guarded, she keeps her secrets beyond Aila’s reach. When Juliet dies, Aila and her younger brother Miles are sent to live in Sterling, a rural town far from home—and the place where Juliet grew up.

Sterling is a place with mysteries of its own. A place where the experiences that weave life together—scents of flowers and food, reflections from mirrors and lakes, even the ability to dream—vanish every seven years.

No one knows what caused these “Disappearances,” or what will slip away next. But Sterling always suspected that Juliet Quinn was somehow responsible—and Aila must bear the brunt of their blame while she follows the chain of literary clues her mother left behind. 

As the next Disappearance nears, Aila begins to unravel the dual mystery of why the Disappearances happen and who her mother truly was. One thing is clear: Sterling isn’t going to hold on to anyone's secrets for long before it starts giving them up.


You can read my original Isabella's Reading Corner post on The Disappearances here.


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