Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

3 stars 

A dark novel that leaves the reader thinking long after the last page.

In the beginning I was fully convinced that I was reading just another uninspired, young adult novel that would undoubtedly end with a clichéd lesson in morality. I prepared myself to endure the trivial details of small-town life, teenage struggles and random musings by the teenage protagonist on zombies and dreams which were never going to be realized. But as I read on, I discovered something much more.

Within the storyline is a web of symbolism and mystery that propels the reader forward. With a dash of sarcasm and humour, Whaley manages to artfully weave together a series of seemingly disconnected events into a shocking finale. It's a story of teenage angst, small-town mentality, hope, love, grief and even the meaning of life, narrated through the delightful tones of a teenage boy, Cullen. Through Cullen’s wonderings and ponderings of life, the reader is taken along on a journey of his satirical observations, elusive ideas and emotional turmoil.