Fadeaway

Gr 8 Up–A compassionate look at the opioid crisis with a compelling opening that will hook readers right away. White high school basketball star Jake has just regained consciousness and is tied up, exhausted, and covered in vomit. He’s not sure where he is or why he’s in this state. The story is told in first person flashbacks by some of the most important people in Jake’s life—a girlfriend, a best friend, a brother, and a coach. To them, he has simply vanished, but as the novel unfolds, it is revealed that some characters know more about his disappearance than it initially appears. Jake’s brother’s pages are written in eloquent verse, propelling the story and slowly unraveling Jake’s, and his own, dark secrets. Billed as a mystery, this is a bit of a slow burn, but the characters have enough voice and heart to make up for that.