The Shape of Lost Things: A Heartfelt Middle Grade Novel About Grief, Reunion, and a Sister Who No Longer Recognizes Her Brother for Children (Ages 8-12)

"Compelling and beautifully written... Everett's sophomore novel story is sure to captivate readers."  — Janae Marks, New York Times bestselling author of On Air with Zoe Washington

From the award-winning author of The Probability of Everything, which has been called "one of the best books I have read this year (maybe ever)" (Colby Sharp, Nerdy Book Club) and "Powerful" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), comes a heartfelt exploration of family and change as twelve-year-old Skye reunites with her older brother, Finn, after he spent four years on the run with their father. 

Skye Nickson’s world changed forever when her dad went on the run with her brother, Finn. It’s been four years without Finn’s jokes, four years without her father’s old soul music, and four years of Skye filling in as Rent-a-Finn on his MIA birthdays for their mom. Finn’s birthday is always difficult, but at least Skye has her best friends, Reece and Jax, to lean on, even if Reece has started acting too cool for them.

But this year is different because after Finn’s birthday, they get a call that he’s finally been found. Tall, quiet, and secretive, this Finn is nothing like the brother she grew up with. He keeps taking late-night phone calls and losing his new expensive gifts, and he doesn’t seem to remember any of their inside jokes or secrets.

As Skye tries to make sense of it all through the lens of her old Polaroid camera, she starts to wonder: Could this Finn be someone else entirely? And if everyone else has changed, does it mean that Skye has to change too?

“An engaging look at grief, friendship, and how to remain who you are when everything around you is changing."  — Claire Swinarski, author of What Happened to Rachel Riley?

"An engaging and unputdownable read." — Booklist (starred review)

"A stellar middle-grade novel."  — Shelf Awareness (starred review)

"A recommended first purchase for all libraries serving tweens and teens."  — School Library Journal (starred review)

• Sibling Relationships: Skye thought she knew her brother, Finn. But the boy who comes back after four years is a stranger, and she’s the only one who seems to notice.
• Family Secrets: With her father still missing and her brother hiding the truth about where he’s been, Skye must uncover what really happened during those four lost years.
• A Question of Identity: Armed with her Polaroid camera, Skye searches for clues. But the more she looks, the more she wonders if the boy who came home is her brother at all.
• Coming of Age: As her family and friendships shift around her, Skye has to figure out who she is now—and what it means to stay true to yourself when your whole world is different.

Sarah Everett is the author of The Probability of Everything as well as several books for teens. Charlotte’s Web was the first book that ever made her cry, and while she despises spiders, she still has an abiding love of stories that move her. When she is not reading or writing, she is dreaming about summer, gearing up for her next travel adventure, perfecting her tree pose, or yodeling with her dog. She lives in western Canada.