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Dead to You
Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2012
156 people are currently reading
14362 people want to read
About the author
Lisa McMann
59 books6,984 followersLisa McMann lives and writes in the Phoenix area. Her newest middle grade fantasy series is called The Forgotten Five. Book one, Map of Flames, was an instant NYT bestseller. It's about five supernatural kids, raised in a deserted hideout, who enter civilization for the first time to search for a hidden stash left behind by their missing, criminal parents.
Book two, The Invisible Spy, is on sale now! Book three, Rebel Undercover, is coming summer 2023, and book 4 will be out in spring of 2024.
Also out now: CLARICE THE BRAVE. It's a story of hope against all odds, about sibling mice who get separated in a mutiny and vow to find one another again.
Lisa's other books include the NYT bestselling THE UNWANTEDS and UNWANTEDS QUESTS series, the GOING WILD trilogy, the YA paranormal WAKE trilogy, the VISIONS trilogy, CRYER'S CROSS, DEAD TO YOU, and INFINITY RING: The Trap Door.
See what's new and where Lisa will be at her
LinkTree.
You can find more info at Lisa'a website, lisamcmann.com, interact with her on Facebook or Twitter, or ask questions on her Instagram.
Book two, The Invisible Spy, is on sale now! Book three, Rebel Undercover, is coming summer 2023, and book 4 will be out in spring of 2024.
Also out now: CLARICE THE BRAVE. It's a story of hope against all odds, about sibling mice who get separated in a mutiny and vow to find one another again.
Lisa's other books include the NYT bestselling THE UNWANTEDS and UNWANTEDS QUESTS series, the GOING WILD trilogy, the YA paranormal WAKE trilogy, the VISIONS trilogy, CRYER'S CROSS, DEAD TO YOU, and INFINITY RING: The Trap Door.
See what's new and where Lisa will be at her
LinkTree.
You can find more info at Lisa'a website, lisamcmann.com, interact with her on Facebook or Twitter, or ask questions on her Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,680 reviews
March 24, 2012
Ethan was abducted at the age of 7 and was raised by a woman who abandoned him years later. At 16 years old, he is reunited with his real parents, younger brother Blake and his sister Gracie who was born after Ethan was kidnapped. The book shows the family's struggle with each other as Ethan re-enters their lives without remembering his past.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book which seemed so promising. I felt real bad for Ethan and all that he went through. The family's feelings and reaction seemed realistic for the most part. Blake had some anger issues that were understandable. The problem I had was with the ending. It ended so fast and abrupt where I seriously thought I had missing pages in my ebook. I had to check other reviews to make sure that I wasn't mistaken. The author could have easily added another 20 or so pages to give some closure to the reader. If the ending was meant as a cliffhanger, the way it ended so suddenly does not make me want to pick up another book by this author.
This was a solid 3 stars in the beginning but deduct 1 star for the ending.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book which seemed so promising. I felt real bad for Ethan and all that he went through. The family's feelings and reaction seemed realistic for the most part. Blake had some anger issues that were understandable. The problem I had was with the ending. It ended so fast and abrupt where I seriously thought I had missing pages in my ebook. I had to check other reviews to make sure that I wasn't mistaken. The author could have easily added another 20 or so pages to give some closure to the reader. If the ending was meant as a cliffhanger, the way it ended so suddenly does not make me want to pick up another book by this author.
This was a solid 3 stars in the beginning but deduct 1 star for the ending.
February 23, 2015
This is a very rare and unique YA story of a young man's battle with his own identity. How often do you get to read about a teenage boy who was abducted at age seven and then gets returned to his family nine years later? The story's premise alone is already very interesting
and Ethan's character is very easy to like. You can’t help but sympathize with him.
As the reader, you would want to guarantee that Ethan's life after he's reconciled with his family will be as comfortable and as easy as possible after what he's gone through. Of course, that wasn’t what happened in the book because the author wrote this story in a very plausible and true to life manner.
The author’s main purpose I believe is to present one of the many harsh realities in life. It’s a terrible thing to lose a family member, a grave thing to mourn for their loss without any idea about whether they are still alive or not. But whether they like it or not, they must move on and move on they did. But what are they supposed to feel when that member returns and doesn’t remember anything about the family at all? It also doesn’t help that Blake, the smart younger brother of Ethan is suspicious of his brother’s identity. The author therefore craftily presents the struggles of these characters in this one of a kind life situation.
I admit I was 90% captivated by this original story and mysterious writing, but then the ending...that freaking ending...
This is one of the craziest cliffhangers ever which wasn’t fair at all because this is the kind of story that needs a proper conclusion. Man! That’s just insane and for that I’m subtracting one star from this book. Ha!
Read at your own risk although I would really love to see the look on your face when you get to the ending.^^
July 24, 2018
I was lying in my bed, eyes watering, listening to the pounding in my head, coughing so much and so hard that I started wondering if it was possible to hack out a lung or something because sheesh. SO I decided to read a book because surely that would take my mind off of the flu and make me feel better.
This book looked like one of those good mystery/suspenseful books, right?
Right?
WRONG.
Ethan is such a dislikable character. And I felt like a bad reader/person when I realized that I genuinely disliked him, because his character had gone through a lot of trauma and of course he would have some problems and unresolved issues that he would have to sort with in the book.
But it's not that... Ethan is a sixteen year old creep. Like one of those creeps. The dirty minded, gross, slimy, stalkerish, boys that follow girls around making crude jokes and gestures.
Like, no thank you.
AND IT GOT WORSE. Asides from Ethan drooling over girls' racks, and trying not to get a boner (everyday we stray farther from God....Jesus, come quickly). We get introduced to Cami, who is the girl next door and is only there to... you guessed it... dump her apparently jerky jock boyfriend (even though I actually LIKED him, he was a good guy not a sleaze like Ethan), so she could make out with Ethan while he tries to hide his erection.
*coughs* *looks up from book* WHAT THE HECK AM I READING?
OH AND CAN WE POINT OUT THE STUPID PARENTS?!?! Oh, they finally found our son that disappeared when he was seven? Pshhh! No need for a DNA test, lets just move this complete stranger in our house who hopefully is our son.
Our other son is afraid of Ethan being an imposter and this is getting between them? Pshhh! Still no need for a DNA test!!!
*face palm* Wha-logic, I tell ya.
I was like, this better not be the most predictable book and turn out like-
Ummm, so yeah. I think my fever went a bit higher after reading this.
This book looked like one of those good mystery/suspenseful books, right?
Right?
WRONG.
Ethan is such a dislikable character. And I felt like a bad reader/person when I realized that I genuinely disliked him, because his character had gone through a lot of trauma and of course he would have some problems and unresolved issues that he would have to sort with in the book.
But it's not that... Ethan is a sixteen year old creep. Like one of those creeps. The dirty minded, gross, slimy, stalkerish, boys that follow girls around making crude jokes and gestures.
Like, no thank you.
AND IT GOT WORSE. Asides from Ethan drooling over girls' racks, and trying not to get a boner (everyday we stray farther from God....Jesus, come quickly). We get introduced to Cami, who is the girl next door and is only there to... you guessed it... dump her apparently jerky jock boyfriend (even though I actually LIKED him, he was a good guy not a sleaze like Ethan), so she could make out with Ethan while he tries to hide his erection.
*coughs* *looks up from book* WHAT THE HECK AM I READING?
OH AND CAN WE POINT OUT THE STUPID PARENTS?!?! Oh, they finally found our son that disappeared when he was seven? Pshhh! No need for a DNA test, lets just move this complete stranger in our house who hopefully is our son.
Our other son is afraid of Ethan being an imposter and this is getting between them? Pshhh! Still no need for a DNA test!!!
*face palm* Wha-logic, I tell ya.
I was like, this better not be the most predictable book and turn out like-
Ummm, so yeah. I think my fever went a bit higher after reading this.
March 4, 2013
Mindfuck.
That's the first word that comes to mind after finishing Lisa McMann's DEAD TO YOU, because damn, you guys. This book was one helluva ride.
The plot and premise was absolutely stunning. Sixteen-year old Ethan, abducted at the age of seven, has finally returned to his family. It should be a time of rejoicing and glee, but there are secrets and memories that Ethan can't unlock, and it will rip his whole family apart.
I've always been interested in kidnappings, serial murders, and those fascinating, gory things that let people judge you easily. I don't know why, but DEAD TO YOU just knocked me over, dragged me by the feet, and sucked me in.
Lisa handled the family tension quite well, though I quickly figured out the 'mystery' surrounding Ethan. In fact, as you read this, you may already know the memories Ethan can't quite dig up. I felt like there were gaps and holes in the story, but I can't talk about it because I'd spoil it majorly for you.
Lisa's writing is... gorgeously simplistic. Very easy to read, but it maintains that shy air of elegance many authors loose in first-person. It may have to do with also being in present-tense, but I have absolutely no complaints about the writing style.
All the characters had a lot of depth, especially Blake, Ethan's younger brother. I absolutely despised Blake - yes, even at the end - because he was one of the biggest dickfaces I've ever encountered. Hell, he was my age, and that kid was a ball of infuriating, unstable anger.
I really liked Ethan, because he was so real. Broken and lost, he had a lot of pressure on him that made him into who he was. And Lisa wrote him like a boy. His thoughts were the unspoken version of everything that would come out of mysexy archenemy's mouth.
I found Ethan's romance with Cami, an old friend, ridiculous. The guy has just come back to his family after nine years and his life is practically a mysterious living hell, and Ethan's here thinking about how HE NEEDS TO SCREW CAMI I WANT HER WE NEED TO BANG ASAP
So, yes. Lisa is fantastic at writing from a male point of view. She knows exactly how it works.
I'm kidding, I'm kidding! I'm not sexist! In all seriousness, I'm joking. Don't get offended, please.
I liked DEAD END a lot, and the cliffhanger ripped me apart - especially since there won't be a sequel!
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A SEQUEL.
WHAT.
That's the first word that comes to mind after finishing Lisa McMann's DEAD TO YOU, because damn, you guys. This book was one helluva ride.
The plot and premise was absolutely stunning. Sixteen-year old Ethan, abducted at the age of seven, has finally returned to his family. It should be a time of rejoicing and glee, but there are secrets and memories that Ethan can't unlock, and it will rip his whole family apart.
I've always been interested in kidnappings, serial murders, and those fascinating, gory things that let people judge you easily. I don't know why, but DEAD TO YOU just knocked me over, dragged me by the feet, and sucked me in.
Lisa handled the family tension quite well, though I quickly figured out the 'mystery' surrounding Ethan. In fact, as you read this, you may already know the memories Ethan can't quite dig up. I felt like there were gaps and holes in the story, but I can't talk about it because I'd spoil it majorly for you.
Lisa's writing is... gorgeously simplistic. Very easy to read, but it maintains that shy air of elegance many authors loose in first-person. It may have to do with also being in present-tense, but I have absolutely no complaints about the writing style.
All the characters had a lot of depth, especially Blake, Ethan's younger brother. I absolutely despised Blake - yes, even at the end - because he was one of the biggest dickfaces I've ever encountered. Hell, he was my age, and that kid was a ball of infuriating, unstable anger.
I really liked Ethan, because he was so real. Broken and lost, he had a lot of pressure on him that made him into who he was. And Lisa wrote him like a boy. His thoughts were the unspoken version of everything that would come out of my
I found Ethan's romance with Cami, an old friend, ridiculous. The guy has just come back to his family after nine years and his life is practically a mysterious living hell, and Ethan's here thinking about how HE NEEDS TO SCREW CAMI I WANT HER WE NEED TO BANG ASAP
So, yes. Lisa is fantastic at writing from a male point of view. She knows exactly how it works.
I liked DEAD END a lot, and the cliffhanger ripped me apart - especially since there won't be a sequel!
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A SEQUEL.
WHAT.
September 8, 2016
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!?!?!?
no really, did that just happen?!?!?!?!?!
Watch out Spoilers probably ahead...
I'll get to that wtf moment in a bit, I guess I should start from the beginning...
So basically this 7 year old kid, Ethan was abducted from his family. It has been 9 years and they get the call that Ethan has been found. He is coming home. This poor kid lived with his "abducter" Ellen for a while and then she decided to dump him of at a kids' home in some bum-fu@! town where there are "no questions asked".
Okay, this pisses me off.... I digress
He lives there a while. Screws some girl named Tempest, decides to leave and go live on the streets and at the zoo. Did I mention this kid is only like 13-15 during all this.
So, he gets to go home and be with his famiy now after 9 years of not knowing who he is. He "meets" his mom, dad, younger brother and 6 year old sister. Yeah, she was born just a year after he was taken. Also another kinda pisses me off moment. But, she turns out to be too darn cute to get mad at. So, I let this one go.
Ethan's Brother on the other hand was pretty awful to him. He is angry that Ethan doesn't remember anything. He is angry at him for living in his space. He is just angry. This kid made me sick. Up until literally the last page I hated him. But, he turned out to be right. Don't ya hate that?!?!?!
So, I had a range of emotions reading this. I was happy for the family at first, I was sad for Ethan not being able to fit in, I was mad at pretty much every character at some point or another.
I read this book because I am a huge fan of Lisa McMann. Her Wake trilogy was easy to read and just awesome.
I am still a huge fan.
Even after this wtf ending. I can't believe it. I thought maybe Ethan would run away or Blake would try and kill him or something. But, I DID NOT SEE this coming. Holy Hell!
4 stars
You asked for it Crystal
Content: A lot of F-Bombs were dropped. Not suitable for probably under 15??
Big thanks to Crystal for letting me read this one and for that heads up about the end!
This and other reviews (and other fun stuff) over on my blog
Messyhousehappylife
no really, did that just happen?!?!?!?!?!
Watch out Spoilers probably ahead...
I'll get to that wtf moment in a bit, I guess I should start from the beginning...
So basically this 7 year old kid, Ethan was abducted from his family. It has been 9 years and they get the call that Ethan has been found. He is coming home. This poor kid lived with his "abducter" Ellen for a while and then she decided to dump him of at a kids' home in some bum-fu@! town where there are "no questions asked".
Okay, this pisses me off.... I digress
He lives there a while. Screws some girl named Tempest, decides to leave and go live on the streets and at the zoo. Did I mention this kid is only like 13-15 during all this.
So, he gets to go home and be with his famiy now after 9 years of not knowing who he is. He "meets" his mom, dad, younger brother and 6 year old sister. Yeah, she was born just a year after he was taken. Also another kinda pisses me off moment. But, she turns out to be too darn cute to get mad at. So, I let this one go.
Ethan's Brother on the other hand was pretty awful to him. He is angry that Ethan doesn't remember anything. He is angry at him for living in his space. He is just angry. This kid made me sick. Up until literally the last page I hated him. But, he turned out to be right. Don't ya hate that?!?!?!
So, I had a range of emotions reading this. I was happy for the family at first, I was sad for Ethan not being able to fit in, I was mad at pretty much every character at some point or another.
I read this book because I am a huge fan of Lisa McMann. Her Wake trilogy was easy to read and just awesome.
I am still a huge fan.
Even after this wtf ending. I can't believe it. I thought maybe Ethan would run away or Blake would try and kill him or something. But, I DID NOT SEE this coming. Holy Hell!
4 stars
You asked for it Crystal
Content: A lot of F-Bombs were dropped. Not suitable for probably under 15??
Big thanks to Crystal for letting me read this one and for that heads up about the end!
This and other reviews (and other fun stuff) over on my blog
Messyhousehappylife
January 24, 2012
I have no idea what just happened in the last 3 pages of this book and I have no idea how I feel about it! I am in complete shock right now...
After thinking about this for awhile I have come to the conclusion that I am pissed! I mean very much over the top pissed. What in the world happened??!! How can it possibly end that way??!! Ms.McMann has managed to take everything I thought I felt about this little world that she created and obliterated it with three pages of words.
The story was such a rough one. Ethan returns home after being abducted nine years ago. It was so heartbreaking to see him trying to fit in and just disappear in the normal everyday that he wants his life to become. My heart broke for him so many times in the first few pages that I just knew I would fall in love with him. His relationship with his six year old sister Gracie was so sweet and innocent that I wish the book would have been about them. They were a great pair. With all that being said when the book hit the half way mark things started to get a little weird for me. Ethan falls head over heels with the girl next door who just happens to be his best friend when he was younger. I get where the romance should have fit in but with everything going on it just felt wrong. I can't imagine anybody returning home after nine years and experiencing what Ethan experienced being ready to have a relationship with anybody. It was all so out of place in my opinion. Then the big bomb was dropped and all hell broke loose. I totally did not see that coming and I am so upset that the story ended where it did! UG!
As far as the characters go I actually connected to most of them. They all seemed like normal people trying to get a handle on what was going on. That makes it even harder to review this book after liking everybody so much. The story killed it all!
I have realized that the author is really good at leaving endings hanging. I have read her other books and in every one of them I have been left thinking "umm is that all??" So I guess I shouldn't be surprised but this felt like such a hit and run. I am not sure if I will read another one of this authors books because my poor heart can't take it! That is unless she writes a sequel for this one...
After thinking about this for awhile I have come to the conclusion that I am pissed! I mean very much over the top pissed. What in the world happened??!! How can it possibly end that way??!! Ms.McMann has managed to take everything I thought I felt about this little world that she created and obliterated it with three pages of words.
The story was such a rough one. Ethan returns home after being abducted nine years ago. It was so heartbreaking to see him trying to fit in and just disappear in the normal everyday that he wants his life to become. My heart broke for him so many times in the first few pages that I just knew I would fall in love with him. His relationship with his six year old sister Gracie was so sweet and innocent that I wish the book would have been about them. They were a great pair. With all that being said when the book hit the half way mark things started to get a little weird for me. Ethan falls head over heels with the girl next door who just happens to be his best friend when he was younger. I get where the romance should have fit in but with everything going on it just felt wrong. I can't imagine anybody returning home after nine years and experiencing what Ethan experienced being ready to have a relationship with anybody. It was all so out of place in my opinion. Then the big bomb was dropped and all hell broke loose. I totally did not see that coming and I am so upset that the story ended where it did! UG!
As far as the characters go I actually connected to most of them. They all seemed like normal people trying to get a handle on what was going on. That makes it even harder to review this book after liking everybody so much. The story killed it all!
I have realized that the author is really good at leaving endings hanging. I have read her other books and in every one of them I have been left thinking "umm is that all??" So I guess I shouldn't be surprised but this felt like such a hit and run. I am not sure if I will read another one of this authors books because my poor heart can't take it! That is unless she writes a sequel for this one...
April 2, 2012
Every element of the story was very predictable. How everyone reacts, the relationships that develop, Ethan's problems adjusting, etc. were all pretty much what one would expect from the situation. I don't really feel like there was anything new or ground-breaking done here. In fact, the novel ends right where I think the real story begins.
I rarely complain about endings. In fact, when I hear "The ending ruined the whole book", I generally dismiss it as hyperbole. This time, however, I feel the ending negated any good that came before it. The real story (the interesting story) was never told. Disappointing.
I rarely complain about endings. In fact, when I hear "The ending ruined the whole book", I generally dismiss it as hyperbole. This time, however, I feel the ending negated any good that came before it. The real story (the interesting story) was never told. Disappointing.
March 12, 2012
Family will always be there. Through thick or thin, good times, hard times, and harder times. Right? But how can a family’s faith, hope, and trust survive in the face of excruciating uncertainty and pain?
In Lisa McMann’s Dead to You the DeWilde family’s world is altered forever when seven year old Ethan is kidnapped from right outside their home. Now nine years later, Ethan has been found and returned to his home and family, but can a broken family torn apart for so long really be healed? Memories, anxieties, and pain swirl through these pages with such simple, honest language and emotion. This family—Mama, Dad, Blake, Gracie, and Ethan (aka “Efan” as Gracie calls him) touched my heart.
“Maybe I’m just not meant to be here, not wired to fit in anymore, after all these years away.”
Through the course of the story, each member of the family attempts to reconnect with Ethan in their own way, but six year old Gracie, who wasn’t even born when Ethan was kidnapped, truly made me smile. The open and honest heart of a child will never cease to amaze and inspire me! Gracie’s love, trust and teasing with Ethan were some of my favorite parts of the book. But Gracie’s adorableness and trust were balanced with Blake’s anger, jealousy, and mistrust. At thirteen, Blake remembered the day, lived through how the pain changed him and his parents, and now has to attempt to rebuild a relationship with a brother who once again is getting all the attention. The tension, uncertainty, and jealousy threaten new pain and rifts which push this young family and my heart to the breaking point.
Now on to the lighter side of things. :D The side characters provide such a wonderful and needed layer of humor that gives readers a break from the tension in the family. J-Dog (Yes, I said J-Dog*giggle, giggle*.) will cause smiles and laughs every time he is on the page. Oh, how he made me giggle! Hehe…And Cami! The beautiful, funny, smart girl next door—every guy wants one I’m sure! ;) Ethan and Cami’s chemistry is adorable, immediate, and down right hot at times. Readers will root for them until the end!
For such a quick read, Ms. McMann addresses some big issues, but does so in a clear, heartfelt way. I truly felt like this family was just holding on and going through such realistic emotions dealing with such an impossible situation. What people have to endure each day is heartbreaking. How does a mother let her kids go out the door just hoping they come back—especially since one child did not come back inside one day? How does a mother let her child go?
This book is filled with hard hitting pain, faith, panic, fear, sadness and surprises! The power will spin your head around and linger long after you close the book.
It was a pleasure diving into a McMann book again. I have missed her.
In Lisa McMann’s Dead to You the DeWilde family’s world is altered forever when seven year old Ethan is kidnapped from right outside their home. Now nine years later, Ethan has been found and returned to his home and family, but can a broken family torn apart for so long really be healed? Memories, anxieties, and pain swirl through these pages with such simple, honest language and emotion. This family—Mama, Dad, Blake, Gracie, and Ethan (aka “Efan” as Gracie calls him) touched my heart.
“Maybe I’m just not meant to be here, not wired to fit in anymore, after all these years away.”
Through the course of the story, each member of the family attempts to reconnect with Ethan in their own way, but six year old Gracie, who wasn’t even born when Ethan was kidnapped, truly made me smile. The open and honest heart of a child will never cease to amaze and inspire me! Gracie’s love, trust and teasing with Ethan were some of my favorite parts of the book. But Gracie’s adorableness and trust were balanced with Blake’s anger, jealousy, and mistrust. At thirteen, Blake remembered the day, lived through how the pain changed him and his parents, and now has to attempt to rebuild a relationship with a brother who once again is getting all the attention. The tension, uncertainty, and jealousy threaten new pain and rifts which push this young family and my heart to the breaking point.
Now on to the lighter side of things. :D The side characters provide such a wonderful and needed layer of humor that gives readers a break from the tension in the family. J-Dog (Yes, I said J-Dog*giggle, giggle*.) will cause smiles and laughs every time he is on the page. Oh, how he made me giggle! Hehe…And Cami! The beautiful, funny, smart girl next door—every guy wants one I’m sure! ;) Ethan and Cami’s chemistry is adorable, immediate, and down right hot at times. Readers will root for them until the end!
For such a quick read, Ms. McMann addresses some big issues, but does so in a clear, heartfelt way. I truly felt like this family was just holding on and going through such realistic emotions dealing with such an impossible situation. What people have to endure each day is heartbreaking. How does a mother let her kids go out the door just hoping they come back—especially since one child did not come back inside one day? How does a mother let her child go?
This book is filled with hard hitting pain, faith, panic, fear, sadness and surprises! The power will spin your head around and linger long after you close the book.
It was a pleasure diving into a McMann book again. I have missed her.
March 26, 2013
I was going to give this a 4 bc whe i added up my different rating like, cover, plot, etc, i got 4 but this ending made me bump it up.
Review to come but for now, enjoy my reaction to the ending
Review to come but for now, enjoy my reaction to the ending
May 2, 2015
Dear Ms. McMann,
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? DO YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS A STANDALONE? HOW COULD YOU JUST END IT RIGHT THERE?
I can't.
I just can't.
Sincerely, someone that just had their heart and brain obliterated by you. All at the same time.
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? DO YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS A STANDALONE? HOW COULD YOU JUST END IT RIGHT THERE?
I can't.
I just can't.
Sincerely, someone that just had their heart and brain obliterated by you. All at the same time.
April 21, 2012
I really can't say enough good things about Lisa McMann's writing. It is often simplistic, true, but considering she writes YA fiction, that's unsurprising. Sometimes the prose gets a little monotonous (like when Ethan keeps saying, "That kills me. It really does."), but it is, at least, realistically juvenile speech. Is it better than teenagers who sound like adults? Yes and no. It can be annoying, but reality makes for a more interesting read, in my humble opinion. At least in this case.
My first glimpse into the imagination of Lisa McMann was through Wake. I was so enthralled that I quickly devoured it and the following two books. I loved them. So when Cryer's Cross came out, I was both excited and cautious. It has been my experience that when I like a few books by an author, I am inevitably let down by subsequent books. Imagine my surprise, then, when not only was I not disappointed by Cryer's Cross, I really liked it.
Now here we are with Dead To You, McMann's fifth foray into the mind of a troubled teen dealing with troubling issues. When we first meet 16-year-old Ethan, he is standing on a train platform with a social worker, gazing at the family he was snatched away from nine years previously. We follow Ethan's reintegration into the family he no longer remembers while his parents are overwhelmed, his younger brother, Blake cautious, and his little sister, Gracie(whom he's meeting for the first time) confused. Complicating matters is the fact that Ethan can't seem to remember anything about his life before he was abducted, nor can he remember the circumstances of said abduction, something that Blake, who was only four when it happened, finds incomprehensible. It becomes apparent at the very beginning that Ethan's life has not been an easy one, and the reader's heart reaches out to him as he attempts to deal with the inevitably bizarre twists that rediscovering his long-lost family has presented. Before long, you find yourself wondering, "Why can't this poor kid remember anything?"
The answer to that question is both shocking and heartbreaking, but it does present itself. This is a powerful read with a good message.
My first glimpse into the imagination of Lisa McMann was through Wake. I was so enthralled that I quickly devoured it and the following two books. I loved them. So when Cryer's Cross came out, I was both excited and cautious. It has been my experience that when I like a few books by an author, I am inevitably let down by subsequent books. Imagine my surprise, then, when not only was I not disappointed by Cryer's Cross, I really liked it.
Now here we are with Dead To You, McMann's fifth foray into the mind of a troubled teen dealing with troubling issues. When we first meet 16-year-old Ethan, he is standing on a train platform with a social worker, gazing at the family he was snatched away from nine years previously. We follow Ethan's reintegration into the family he no longer remembers while his parents are overwhelmed, his younger brother, Blake cautious, and his little sister, Gracie(whom he's meeting for the first time) confused. Complicating matters is the fact that Ethan can't seem to remember anything about his life before he was abducted, nor can he remember the circumstances of said abduction, something that Blake, who was only four when it happened, finds incomprehensible. It becomes apparent at the very beginning that Ethan's life has not been an easy one, and the reader's heart reaches out to him as he attempts to deal with the inevitably bizarre twists that rediscovering his long-lost family has presented. Before long, you find yourself wondering, "Why can't this poor kid remember anything?"
The answer to that question is both shocking and heartbreaking, but it does present itself. This is a powerful read with a good message.
March 13, 2012
Whoa! WHOA!WHOA! Back this thing up so I can wrap my head around what in the heck just happened.
I love McMann's writing style, always very sparse and immediate, compelling to read. Characters that are clearly drawn and effectively engaging, pulling you into the story.
This is going to be very brief because I don't want to have any spoilers.
Great read. Sad.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
I love McMann's writing style, always very sparse and immediate, compelling to read. Characters that are clearly drawn and effectively engaging, pulling you into the story.
This is going to be very brief because I don't want to have any spoilers.
Great read. Sad.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
February 27, 2012
I had a little bit of an obsession with the book that only got worse when l got to the ending. I found myself reading DEAD TO YOU every chance I could get. In my opinion, McMann's BEST BOOK YET!!!! I'm gonna shut up now, so I don't spoil it for you. *zip*
November 28, 2016
3.5 stars
Lisa McMann's young adult books consists of two descriptions: short and simple. To some, that may be a bit of a bother while to others, it's perfect for them. For me, McMann's books are short but entertaining to the point where I genuinely like them. The same goes for Dead to You although I can see why some people have mixed feelings about it. I'm in that same boat.
Ethan was kidnapped when he was seven years old. Since then, he's been missing until he was later found. From there, things start to pick up as he adjusts back into his family life while adjusting to his old life. As he begins to adjust, he wonders what happened to his memories during his nine years of being missing. What really happened? And is it true?
Obviously, the book is short to where you could finish it in a few hours or even a day. (I had to write an essay for my English course so it took me a while.) That's how it is with McMann's books. I read her bind-up books of the Wake and Visions trilogy in a matter of days, including Cryer's Cross.
However, it's the shortness of them that sometimes leaves people wanting more. As much as I liked her other books, I do wish there was more story and character development. Not to say they're bad characters or the plot was bad. There just needs to be more.
I won't go into specific detail about the plot, so I suggest you go into this blind. Read it from your library if it's available.
In this case, Dead to You had a decent beginning and middle up until the end where I was left wondering, "...what? Huh?" Like really, you left it off there? -_-
Let me break it down. I liked the plot, the characters were decent enough that I thought they were okay. Didn't love any of them, though I did hate Blake.
Verdict
I liked Dead to You. It was entertaining and kept me interested. The ending... could've been better.
Thanks for reading my review!
-Cesar
Lisa McMann's young adult books consists of two descriptions: short and simple. To some, that may be a bit of a bother while to others, it's perfect for them. For me, McMann's books are short but entertaining to the point where I genuinely like them. The same goes for Dead to You although I can see why some people have mixed feelings about it. I'm in that same boat.
Ethan was kidnapped when he was seven years old. Since then, he's been missing until he was later found. From there, things start to pick up as he adjusts back into his family life while adjusting to his old life. As he begins to adjust, he wonders what happened to his memories during his nine years of being missing. What really happened? And is it true?
Obviously, the book is short to where you could finish it in a few hours or even a day. (I had to write an essay for my English course so it took me a while.) That's how it is with McMann's books. I read her bind-up books of the Wake and Visions trilogy in a matter of days, including Cryer's Cross.
However, it's the shortness of them that sometimes leaves people wanting more. As much as I liked her other books, I do wish there was more story and character development. Not to say they're bad characters or the plot was bad. There just needs to be more.
I won't go into specific detail about the plot, so I suggest you go into this blind. Read it from your library if it's available.
In this case, Dead to You had a decent beginning and middle up until the end where I was left wondering, "...what? Huh?" Like really, you left it off there? -_-
Let me break it down. I liked the plot, the characters were decent enough that I thought they were okay. Didn't love any of them, though I did hate Blake.
Verdict
I liked Dead to You. It was entertaining and kept me interested. The ending... could've been better.
Thanks for reading my review!
-Cesar
February 21, 2014
"Dead To You" has probably the most unlikable main character I have ever met. Ethan is a selfish, idiotic, rude, pissy, temper-tantrum throwing moron who doesn't appreciate the good things that are happening to him and only focuses on the bad.
"But he's a teenager, right, and on top of that, someone who's been through some pretty terrible times." All right, I dare you. Try liking this character. Just try. Ethan never gives us one good character trait to make us invested in the story, never does one thing that is slightly productive or good. He is taken out of a sorry lifestyle only to be taken to a good lifestyle where he promptly tries to make everyone else's life sorry throughout his stay there. Again, yes, I know he had a horrible childhood. I understand that. But keep in mind that this is a work of fiction, and that the author has to give me something to care about. And with such a character-centric story as this book is, Ethan did not give me one thing to care about.
But what pushed this book into the one-star territory? After all, books with bad characters are common, and this story in and of itself didn't really distinguish it from all the rest of the stupid teenage angst novels -
LIES. The end of the book is the worst ending I have ever read. Worse than "My Sister's Keeper", worse than "Harry Potter," worse than "Star Trek: Nemesis" (the movie). I won't give it away, but the ending actually does something incredible - it completely makes the entire book pointless. That's right, the last few pages of this book were awful enough to TAKE AWAY ANY REASON FOR THIS BOOK'S MIRACULOUS EXISTENCE. It is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest, and once you've reached the top, jumping off. The entire journey was completely pointless.
When I was finished with this waste of paper, I threw it across the room and decided never to open it again. The author needs to write an apology to all the trees that were wasted in the printing of a book that had no reason to exist. The end.
"But he's a teenager, right, and on top of that, someone who's been through some pretty terrible times." All right, I dare you. Try liking this character. Just try. Ethan never gives us one good character trait to make us invested in the story, never does one thing that is slightly productive or good. He is taken out of a sorry lifestyle only to be taken to a good lifestyle where he promptly tries to make everyone else's life sorry throughout his stay there. Again, yes, I know he had a horrible childhood. I understand that. But keep in mind that this is a work of fiction, and that the author has to give me something to care about. And with such a character-centric story as this book is, Ethan did not give me one thing to care about.
But what pushed this book into the one-star territory? After all, books with bad characters are common, and this story in and of itself didn't really distinguish it from all the rest of the stupid teenage angst novels -
LIES. The end of the book is the worst ending I have ever read. Worse than "My Sister's Keeper", worse than "Harry Potter," worse than "Star Trek: Nemesis" (the movie). I won't give it away, but the ending actually does something incredible - it completely makes the entire book pointless. That's right, the last few pages of this book were awful enough to TAKE AWAY ANY REASON FOR THIS BOOK'S MIRACULOUS EXISTENCE. It is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest, and once you've reached the top, jumping off. The entire journey was completely pointless.
When I was finished with this waste of paper, I threw it across the room and decided never to open it again. The author needs to write an apology to all the trees that were wasted in the printing of a book that had no reason to exist. The end.
June 9, 2011
Wow, what an amazing story! I was sucked in from the very first page and could not put down the book. I oftened wondered what happens if a child is reunited with their family after years of abduction. Lisa really hit this one out of the park. I felt so sorry for all parties involved because we know how difficult it is for the familes who lost a loved one but, we don't stop to think about the effects and how hard it is for the child to be reaquanted with their family. As always, Lisa throws in a twist ending that makes you wish the story doesn't stop there. Can't wait to see what is next on the list! :)
September 4, 2015
3.5 stars
February 7, 2012
4.5 stars
A dark, realistic read that's chilly, horrifying, and mysterious. This is an emotionally gripping read that will hold you captive until the very last page.
In true Lisa McMann style she managed to yet again emotionally pull me into her book and totally take me for unexpected emotional roller-coaster of a ride. Let me first say, realistic contemporary books are normally not my thing, but it became my thing, because Lisa wrote it. I'm a HUGE fan of Lisa's. She isn't afraid to bring the gritty realism to her books and boy or boy does she do that in Dead to You. The other reason why I don't like books like this is, because I already do the "what if's" in my head, and I don't want to read about it. It makes me all the more paranoid as a parent (don't laugh). With the type of society we live in now, this book will hit home with a lot of readers.
I felt like Lisa gave me an inside view on what it is like for a family who's son was abducted nine years prior, to get him back and some what put the pieces of their lives together. It's not as easy as I would think, well it's not like I thought it would be easy, and it definitely has it's challenges. Everyone has changed, and grown up in different ways. The family dynamics are different, Ethan has changed, his brother is extremely suspicious of him, and Ethan has a little sister he never met. The one thing that doesn't change is the love his parent's have for him, especially his mother's.
Sadly for Ethan he doesn't really remember any of them, or his life before his abduction. That's where I can understand his brother's suspicions of him and the hurt Blake has towards Ethan for getting in the car with strangers in the first place all those years ago. It's also perfectly normal for Ethan not to remember, as often times kids who are abducted don't always remember their lives prior to the trauma their experience during this time. Lisa literally puts the readers inside Ethan and his family's shoes. I felt like I was able to understand the various emotions everyone felt and why. There are so many things that are happening all at the same time. Life has gone on and yet stayed on hold at the same time for this family. I literally can not even begin to imagine what this is really like to deal with, nor would I ever want anyone to experience this. It's heartbreaking, gut wrenching and heartwarming all at the same time.
There's moments were things are okay, and moments were I understand Ethan's out bursts, and even Blake's for that matter. Just as things start to settle into what is going to be a normal routine for the family Lisa throws in one heck of an emotionally, rip your heart out scene that is both horrifying, and realistically fitting. It's a scene where everything comes together and it left me thinking "no way" and "now that makes sense" all at the same time. All I can say is this book will leave you feeling raw. If you're a mom, it's one that will make you want to hug your kiddos tighter tonight. Lisa really does a remarkable job at making this story feel real and emotionally pulling me right into it. There is some mild language in the book and a few uses of the F bomb.
A dark, realistic read that's chilly, horrifying, and mysterious. This is an emotionally gripping read that will hold you captive until the very last page.
In true Lisa McMann style she managed to yet again emotionally pull me into her book and totally take me for unexpected emotional roller-coaster of a ride. Let me first say, realistic contemporary books are normally not my thing, but it became my thing, because Lisa wrote it. I'm a HUGE fan of Lisa's. She isn't afraid to bring the gritty realism to her books and boy or boy does she do that in Dead to You. The other reason why I don't like books like this is, because I already do the "what if's" in my head, and I don't want to read about it. It makes me all the more paranoid as a parent (don't laugh). With the type of society we live in now, this book will hit home with a lot of readers.
I felt like Lisa gave me an inside view on what it is like for a family who's son was abducted nine years prior, to get him back and some what put the pieces of their lives together. It's not as easy as I would think, well it's not like I thought it would be easy, and it definitely has it's challenges. Everyone has changed, and grown up in different ways. The family dynamics are different, Ethan has changed, his brother is extremely suspicious of him, and Ethan has a little sister he never met. The one thing that doesn't change is the love his parent's have for him, especially his mother's.
Sadly for Ethan he doesn't really remember any of them, or his life before his abduction. That's where I can understand his brother's suspicions of him and the hurt Blake has towards Ethan for getting in the car with strangers in the first place all those years ago. It's also perfectly normal for Ethan not to remember, as often times kids who are abducted don't always remember their lives prior to the trauma their experience during this time. Lisa literally puts the readers inside Ethan and his family's shoes. I felt like I was able to understand the various emotions everyone felt and why. There are so many things that are happening all at the same time. Life has gone on and yet stayed on hold at the same time for this family. I literally can not even begin to imagine what this is really like to deal with, nor would I ever want anyone to experience this. It's heartbreaking, gut wrenching and heartwarming all at the same time.
There's moments were things are okay, and moments were I understand Ethan's out bursts, and even Blake's for that matter. Just as things start to settle into what is going to be a normal routine for the family Lisa throws in one heck of an emotionally, rip your heart out scene that is both horrifying, and realistically fitting. It's a scene where everything comes together and it left me thinking "no way" and "now that makes sense" all at the same time. All I can say is this book will leave you feeling raw. If you're a mom, it's one that will make you want to hug your kiddos tighter tonight. Lisa really does a remarkable job at making this story feel real and emotionally pulling me right into it. There is some mild language in the book and a few uses of the F bomb.
October 9, 2016
::SOME SPOILERS (not the ending)::
Ok, first off, this is probably a 3.5 because of two main parts of the story - what made me lean towards the 4 instead of 3 was because I genuinely loved this book, (not that I don't right now, but I'll get to that later) and there were really only two main "letdowns".
I really liked many of the ideas in the story that make things seem real, such as Ethan's laughing panic attacks and how he still likes Ellen and thinks of her as a mother figure. I don't know much about this area, obviously, but I've watched enough of criminal minds to get an idea of how this is could really pertain to people in this situation.
The first of wait I kind of disagreed with in the book (not completely, but still) was his relationship with Cami, which seemed a bit rushed and somewhat superficial(?¿I guess is the right word. How do you explain when the guy goes crazy when he smells her and feels her side boob? And I'm not gonna use the word lust). However, I was fine with it until THE ENDING.
So I get that everyone is hyped and it's so creative and really, massive kudos to McMann for trying something different and jamming that mind blowing plot twist in there. But she could have added an extra chapter or two at the end to not make it end at a complete cliffhanger, when there's no second book or anything. That is a horrible thing to do with the heart of a reader who has stayed up till 2 reading a book she started reading three hours ago and hasn't been able to put down, loving the characters until they then around and whack you in the face.
After the first minute of excitement, the shock factor wears off and I'm pissed because I have literally no idea what happens next, or to find out the truth about before - it's not even explained completely properly as a fact in the what, 3 pages the story completely changes. After I finished I had to sleep immediately [it was a school night, and I had 4 hours of sleep until an exam] but I was so uncomfortable with the ending. I'm kind of glad I had to/could just go to sleep because if I had to think about it for another five minutes my heart and mind would implode simultaneously.
My first review!!! This is much longer than I thought it'd be. I originally imagined a paragraph but see where that gets me. FYI it's been a few days since I read it, and I had to calm down and not be so wrapped up in it to write this review. Most of my review is complaining but this is actually a really good book - the ending is just incomprehensible. (for me)
Ok, first off, this is probably a 3.5 because of two main parts of the story - what made me lean towards the 4 instead of 3 was because I genuinely loved this book, (not that I don't right now, but I'll get to that later) and there were really only two main "letdowns".
I really liked many of the ideas in the story that make things seem real, such as Ethan's laughing panic attacks and how he still likes Ellen and thinks of her as a mother figure. I don't know much about this area, obviously, but I've watched enough of criminal minds to get an idea of how this is could really pertain to people in this situation.
The first of wait I kind of disagreed with in the book (not completely, but still) was his relationship with Cami, which seemed a bit rushed and somewhat superficial(?¿I guess is the right word. How do you explain when the guy goes crazy when he smells her and feels her side boob? And I'm not gonna use the word lust). However, I was fine with it until THE ENDING.
So I get that everyone is hyped and it's so creative and really, massive kudos to McMann for trying something different and jamming that mind blowing plot twist in there. But she could have added an extra chapter or two at the end to not make it end at a complete cliffhanger, when there's no second book or anything. That is a horrible thing to do with the heart of a reader who has stayed up till 2 reading a book she started reading three hours ago and hasn't been able to put down, loving the characters until they then around and whack you in the face.
After the first minute of excitement, the shock factor wears off and I'm pissed because I have literally no idea what happens next, or to find out the truth about before - it's not even explained completely properly as a fact in the what, 3 pages the story completely changes. After I finished I had to sleep immediately [it was a school night, and I had 4 hours of sleep until an exam] but I was so uncomfortable with the ending. I'm kind of glad I had to/could just go to sleep because if I had to think about it for another five minutes my heart and mind would implode simultaneously.
My first review!!! This is much longer than I thought it'd be. I originally imagined a paragraph but see where that gets me. FYI it's been a few days since I read it, and I had to calm down and not be so wrapped up in it to write this review. Most of my review is complaining but this is actually a really good book - the ending is just incomprehensible. (for me)
January 18, 2015
Ummmm.....
I see why the reviews are so extreme, either love it or hate it. This was severely underwhelming and did not give me the big shocking ending I was led to believe existed.
September 26, 2015
That ending was completely unexpected. I didn't rate this higher because I needed more about Ethan (motivations, context). I know the character was developed this way purposefully, but it left me a bit dissatisfied.
January 21, 2024
No words. Just pain.This book is brutally good. Read it, it turns you inside out and back again in so many ways.I finished it a few hours after I picked it up from the library.
June 25, 2024
man wtf was that ending
December 31, 2011
I devoured this book in only a few short hours. Seriously, it took me two hours to read this book it was THAT good! It helped that the chapters were short and it was a naturally fast read but I could not put this one down for a minute!
Ethan was 7 when he was abducted from his yard in front of his little brother Blake. For 9 years, his parents and the small town he was from has held out hope that he will return. As the story begins, Ethan is 16 and waiting to be reunited with his parents, his little brother and his little sister (which he terms the "replacement child").
Ethan's parents are instantly sure that he is their long-lost son despite the fact that he remembers nothing from the first 7 years of his life. They take Ethan home and Ethan begins the process of becoming reacquainted with his family. He is overwhelmed by the family and friends that he doesn't remember, the house he doesn't remember and the sibling he doesn't remember. Blake is making things very difficult with his anger issues and is constantly asking Ethan why he got in the car with those people and why he doesn't remember anything.
After an event at the high school basketball game puts Ethan in hysterics and then the hospital, Ethan starts making his own demands. No school and his own room in the basement (the one place he feels comfortable). He must return to school but he finds that the kids there genuinely care for him, especially his neighbor and childhood best friend, Cami.
Until the end when a secret comes out that makes Ethan remember everything. And that can ruin it all.
I loved Ethan! I felt so bad for him, especially when Blake was being a brat. He just wanted his family back and to fit in. It was so hard for him to trust anyone. He is trying to deal with coming into a caring family who has rules and expectations after being a kid on the street who answered only to himself.
Blake was a jerk! I didn't like him from the beginning to end. I understand his issues but he was just downright mean. His parents didn't seem to have a great handle on it either and I was annoyed with that. He was by far my least favorite character.
I loved Gracie. She was the "replacement child" and the De Wilde's 6 year old daughter. She took to Ethan rather quickly and she helped him feel comfortable. She was funny and had a knack for easing the tension in the room when it needed easing. The things that she said were too cute and I thought she was an awesome secondary character.
**SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT**
So, the ending....I can't really say a lot because I absolutely do not want to give it away but NOT what I wanted as the ending. I thought it a little ironic too. Let me see if I can phrase this right. Bear with me, it may be a little confusing as I don't want to give too much away. So, Ethan returns to his family 9 years after his disappearance. At the end of the book, 9 years and some months after Ethan's abduction, something happens to turn the De Wilde's family upside down. The fact that it happened all around the same time was a little unbelievable for me. I just didn't buy it and thought there were other ways that this could have happened.
**SPOILER OVER**
So, other than that little glitch, I really enjoyed the book. I have some questions left over after the end but I guess I can come to my own conclusions. This was a gripping novel that you won't be able to put down
Ethan was 7 when he was abducted from his yard in front of his little brother Blake. For 9 years, his parents and the small town he was from has held out hope that he will return. As the story begins, Ethan is 16 and waiting to be reunited with his parents, his little brother and his little sister (which he terms the "replacement child").
Ethan's parents are instantly sure that he is their long-lost son despite the fact that he remembers nothing from the first 7 years of his life. They take Ethan home and Ethan begins the process of becoming reacquainted with his family. He is overwhelmed by the family and friends that he doesn't remember, the house he doesn't remember and the sibling he doesn't remember. Blake is making things very difficult with his anger issues and is constantly asking Ethan why he got in the car with those people and why he doesn't remember anything.
After an event at the high school basketball game puts Ethan in hysterics and then the hospital, Ethan starts making his own demands. No school and his own room in the basement (the one place he feels comfortable). He must return to school but he finds that the kids there genuinely care for him, especially his neighbor and childhood best friend, Cami.
Until the end when a secret comes out that makes Ethan remember everything. And that can ruin it all.
I loved Ethan! I felt so bad for him, especially when Blake was being a brat. He just wanted his family back and to fit in. It was so hard for him to trust anyone. He is trying to deal with coming into a caring family who has rules and expectations after being a kid on the street who answered only to himself.
Blake was a jerk! I didn't like him from the beginning to end. I understand his issues but he was just downright mean. His parents didn't seem to have a great handle on it either and I was annoyed with that. He was by far my least favorite character.
I loved Gracie. She was the "replacement child" and the De Wilde's 6 year old daughter. She took to Ethan rather quickly and she helped him feel comfortable. She was funny and had a knack for easing the tension in the room when it needed easing. The things that she said were too cute and I thought she was an awesome secondary character.
**SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT**
So, the ending....I can't really say a lot because I absolutely do not want to give it away but NOT what I wanted as the ending. I thought it a little ironic too. Let me see if I can phrase this right. Bear with me, it may be a little confusing as I don't want to give too much away. So, Ethan returns to his family 9 years after his disappearance. At the end of the book, 9 years and some months after Ethan's abduction, something happens to turn the De Wilde's family upside down. The fact that it happened all around the same time was a little unbelievable for me. I just didn't buy it and thought there were other ways that this could have happened.
**SPOILER OVER**
So, other than that little glitch, I really enjoyed the book. I have some questions left over after the end but I guess I can come to my own conclusions. This was a gripping novel that you won't be able to put down
March 3, 2012
This is the worst nightmare every parent could ever imagine. When your child gets abducted right in front of your house followed by years and years of searching and wondering. Wondering how he or she is, whether or not he's alive...is he eating good? Where is he?
Ethan Manuel De Wilde got abducted when he was seven. Nine years later, he stood facing a family that he was positive was his. It was awkward at first; after all, they're practically strangers. The adjustment was a little difficult but welcomed. Growing up, his life hasn't been all that easy. The mother he knew then was a neglectful drug addict who had abusive men walking in and out of their lives. So the normalcy of having a nuclear family was a breath of fresh air for Ethan. Little by little, his family started cracking again as Blake, Ethan's thirteen year old brother questions his memory losses. He doesn't remember anything at all from his life prior to the kidnapping. Just when things are going his way, the truth about his identity shatters his newly found sense of belonging.
I'm a huge Lisa McMann fan. She has a way of telling the darkest stories in the most realistically way possible. Dead to You is no different. I found her books to be easily digestible and it's a credit to her straight-forward writing.
Dead to You is a glimpse into the lives of a family whose greatest hope was to find their son. And what they had to endure to keep the flames alive. Everything should've been copacetic since they've found him but no. Believe it or not, it wasn't easy. It wasn't happiness all around. The awkwardness of getting-to-know each other again was just the tip of the pressurized iceberg. An ounce of an added weight and it would implode gloriously. Ms. McMann made it hard to believe that everything is as it should be. Most of the time, I found myself dreading the eventual outcome of their story. And I wish I could say this book ended happily.
Lisa McMann's Dead to You is signature of her YA works. It's real, it's heartbreaking and it's a short story that packs quite an emotional, awe-inspiring punch.
Ethan Manuel De Wilde got abducted when he was seven. Nine years later, he stood facing a family that he was positive was his. It was awkward at first; after all, they're practically strangers. The adjustment was a little difficult but welcomed. Growing up, his life hasn't been all that easy. The mother he knew then was a neglectful drug addict who had abusive men walking in and out of their lives. So the normalcy of having a nuclear family was a breath of fresh air for Ethan. Little by little, his family started cracking again as Blake, Ethan's thirteen year old brother questions his memory losses. He doesn't remember anything at all from his life prior to the kidnapping. Just when things are going his way, the truth about his identity shatters his newly found sense of belonging.
I'm a huge Lisa McMann fan. She has a way of telling the darkest stories in the most realistically way possible. Dead to You is no different. I found her books to be easily digestible and it's a credit to her straight-forward writing.
Dead to You is a glimpse into the lives of a family whose greatest hope was to find their son. And what they had to endure to keep the flames alive. Everything should've been copacetic since they've found him but no. Believe it or not, it wasn't easy. It wasn't happiness all around. The awkwardness of getting-to-know each other again was just the tip of the pressurized iceberg. An ounce of an added weight and it would implode gloriously. Ms. McMann made it hard to believe that everything is as it should be. Most of the time, I found myself dreading the eventual outcome of their story. And I wish I could say this book ended happily.
Lisa McMann's Dead to You is signature of her YA works. It's real, it's heartbreaking and it's a short story that packs quite an emotional, awe-inspiring punch.
November 1, 2012
Many thanks to Terri (Tymfos) for recommending this excellent book. It was difficult to put down once I began to read the first page.
Abducted at seven, Ethan miraculously locates his biological parents when he is 16 years old. With his family, a small town community celebrates his return. Finding a lapse in memories and a difficult adjustment to "normalcy" after years of abuse, neglect, homelessness and abandonment, Ethan struggles to belong.
Desperately wanting to fit in, to belong, to be loved, Ethan wants ever so much to be accepted. Resenting the attention and his return, his younger brother Blake claims he is a fake. Listening to nightly arguments from his new found parents feels like a stab in the heart. When his younger sister loves him and grows attached to Ethan, he finally feels like there is a raft in the middle of the deep, dark ocean.
This is well written and powerful. The ending was unexpected.
Highly recommended.
Four stars.
Abducted at seven, Ethan miraculously locates his biological parents when he is 16 years old. With his family, a small town community celebrates his return. Finding a lapse in memories and a difficult adjustment to "normalcy" after years of abuse, neglect, homelessness and abandonment, Ethan struggles to belong.
Desperately wanting to fit in, to belong, to be loved, Ethan wants ever so much to be accepted. Resenting the attention and his return, his younger brother Blake claims he is a fake. Listening to nightly arguments from his new found parents feels like a stab in the heart. When his younger sister loves him and grows attached to Ethan, he finally feels like there is a raft in the middle of the deep, dark ocean.
This is well written and powerful. The ending was unexpected.
Highly recommended.
Four stars.
July 24, 2016
When I read the plot summary of this novel, I knew I had to read it. I find stories where the identity of a character is in doubt hard to resist.
Ethan was abducted when he was 7 years old and lived for many years with a woman who eventually dropped him off at an orphanage. He ran away from the orphanage and has been living on the streets. Now, nine years after his abduction, he has at last found his birth family on a website for missing children.
This was a riveting read, a beautifully written story with well-portrayed characters, that turned out to be much darker than I expected. I was uneasy about the possible ending all along, but when I got there, I found myself shocked by the sudden, disturbing conclusion. Until then, I was prepared to rate this book 5 stars.
I do enjoy Lisa McMann's books and intend to read more of them, but I hope she doesn't have too many endings like this one!
Ethan was abducted when he was 7 years old and lived for many years with a woman who eventually dropped him off at an orphanage. He ran away from the orphanage and has been living on the streets. Now, nine years after his abduction, he has at last found his birth family on a website for missing children.
This was a riveting read, a beautifully written story with well-portrayed characters, that turned out to be much darker than I expected. I was uneasy about the possible ending all along, but when I got there, I found myself shocked by the sudden, disturbing conclusion. Until then, I was prepared to rate this book 5 stars.
I do enjoy Lisa McMann's books and intend to read more of them, but I hope she doesn't have too many endings like this one!
August 16, 2020
Ok, I have read tons and tons of books and let me just say that I have never read a worse ending like this one. Long story short child was abducted at 7. 9 years later child comes home to his family but has no memory of the life before his abduction and that includes his family. They don’t take a dna test or anything to prove that he is their child, remember that, it’s important. He adjusts and everything starts to feel a little normal. But just like any other book, something bad happens and the police come to their house. The police tell them that they found the dna remains of their dead abducted child. Their child was dead years ago. Child who came into their home was not actually their child and he feels terrible giving them hope. He runs away. The end. No I am not joking. Yes I wish I was. This is honestly the most disappointing book. I really need to find books with less weird, confusing, and flat out terrible endings, very anticlimactic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2019
*whispers gently* did you know that aaron tveit narrates the audiobook
July 1, 2016
Este libro era 3.5 pero ese final me convenció y se merece un 4.
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