Return to Sender

Gr 8 Up–Three years have passed since Brodie McKellon was accused of stealing the Adder Stone, a legendary town relic, and sent away to boarding school. Dubbed the “McKellon Felon” and “Red” (for being caught red-handed) more times than she can count, Brodie returns home to the town of Warwick for senior year. Since Mum died a few years back, and Dad works as a roadie, she lives with her beloved and quirky grandmother. Nan runs the town’s Dead Letter Office, where boxes of undeliverable mail await their intended recipients. While navigating through rough waters of absent parents, closely held secrets, and young love, Brodie and friends Elliot and Levi remain determined to find the still-missing Adder Stone and solve the mystery of the dead letters in box 130, the only box that has never been claimed. The story paints a genuine picture of small-town teen life. Draper incorporates elements of cozy mystery into the novel, including predictability of plot. Readers will find the central characters and the adults in their lives relatable but may question the relevancy of mentioned trends in pop culture.