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Backwards
An unusual psychological thriller Is it possible to fix a tragic future by changing the past—while experiencing life backwards? At the moment Dan's life ends, the Rider's begins. Unwillingly tied to Dan, the Rider finds himself moving backwards in time, each day revealing more of the series of events that led to Dan's suicide. As the Rider struggles to figure out what he's meant to do, he revels in the life Dan ignores. Beyond the simple pleasures of a hot shower and the sun on his face, the Rider also notices the people around his little sister, always disappointed by her big brother's rejection, his overwhelmed mom, who can never rely on Dan for help, and Cat—with her purple hair, artistic talent, and misfit beauty. But Cat doesn't want anything to do with Dan. While the days move in reverse and Halloween looms, it's up to the Rider to find out why Cat is so angry, and what he must do to make things right. In his second novel for teens, Todd Mitchell turns time around as the Rider attempts to fix the future by changing the past and experiences the joys and heartbreak of living backwards.
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First published August 1, 2013
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About the author
Todd Mitchell
23 books107 followersTodd Mitchell is the author of several award-winning middle grade and YA novels including The Last Panther (Penguin Random House), The Traitor King (Scholastic), The Secret to Lying (Candlewick), and Backwards (Candlewick). He has two new books coming out in fall 2021—one for writers, artists, and creators titled Breakthrough: How to Overcome Doubt, Fear, and Resistance so that You Can Be Your Ultimate Creative Self, and a middle grade novel that's recently been optioned for film/TV development titled The Namer of Spirits.
He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he kayaks, mountain bikes, and teaches creative writing at Colorado State University. He loves speaking with young readers and writers. You can visit him (and learn about his squirrel obsession) at www.ToddMitchellBooks.com
About THE NAMER OF SPIRITS:
“A dangerous town carved out of unforgiving forest, a young girl who can name spirits and tame monsters, a race against time to save the natural world: The Namer of Spirits is what readers want and the world needs.”
—New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer
About THE LAST PANTHER (winner of the Colorado Book Award, the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, and a Green Earth Honor Book Award):
"BRILLIANT! A boldly original, profoundly wise, deeply moving book. It’s a rare gift to any reader, as well as to our planet."
—T. A. Barron, author of the Merlin Saga
"A powerful tale." —KIRKUS
"Difficult to put down. An important addition on a timely subject." —SLJ
About THE SECRET TO LYING (winner of the Colorado Book Award, for ages 14 & up):
"Engrossing and entertaining... a great read."
—PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY
About BACKWARDS (winner of the CAL Award, for ages 13 & up):
“[A] suspenseful paranormal novel. …at once thought-provoking and satisfying.” —School Library Journal
About THE TRAITOR KING (Scholastic Press, for ages 8 & up):
"Humor, menace, and mystery suffuse this fast-paced tale... This well-written tale is a must for most fantasy readers."
—School Library Journal
Other projects:
I co-wrote a graphic novel that came out with Vertigo Comics (part of D.C.), called A FLIGHT OF ANGELS (selected as a YALSA Top Ten Pick for Great Graphic Novels for Teens).
BROKEN SAVIORS, an alien invasion graphic novel series for ages 13 and up. You can read the first few issues of BROKEN SAVIORS on my website for free. Or find it in full HD on ComiXology!
http://www.toddmitchellbooks.com
He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he kayaks, mountain bikes, and teaches creative writing at Colorado State University. He loves speaking with young readers and writers. You can visit him (and learn about his squirrel obsession) at www.ToddMitchellBooks.com
About THE NAMER OF SPIRITS:
“A dangerous town carved out of unforgiving forest, a young girl who can name spirits and tame monsters, a race against time to save the natural world: The Namer of Spirits is what readers want and the world needs.”
—New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer
About THE LAST PANTHER (winner of the Colorado Book Award, the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, and a Green Earth Honor Book Award):
"BRILLIANT! A boldly original, profoundly wise, deeply moving book. It’s a rare gift to any reader, as well as to our planet."
—T. A. Barron, author of the Merlin Saga
"A powerful tale." —KIRKUS
"Difficult to put down. An important addition on a timely subject." —SLJ
About THE SECRET TO LYING (winner of the Colorado Book Award, for ages 14 & up):
"Engrossing and entertaining... a great read."
—PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY
About BACKWARDS (winner of the CAL Award, for ages 13 & up):
“[A] suspenseful paranormal novel. …at once thought-provoking and satisfying.” —School Library Journal
About THE TRAITOR KING (Scholastic Press, for ages 8 & up):
"Humor, menace, and mystery suffuse this fast-paced tale... This well-written tale is a must for most fantasy readers."
—School Library Journal
Other projects:
I co-wrote a graphic novel that came out with Vertigo Comics (part of D.C.), called A FLIGHT OF ANGELS (selected as a YALSA Top Ten Pick for Great Graphic Novels for Teens).
BROKEN SAVIORS, an alien invasion graphic novel series for ages 13 and up. You can read the first few issues of BROKEN SAVIORS on my website for free. Or find it in full HD on ComiXology!
http://www.toddmitchellbooks.com
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December 6, 2013
http://ensuingchapters.com/2013/12/06...
Backwards
By Todd Mitchell
Did you know there is no adjective form of the word “integrity”? Look it up. I was going to open this review with a declaration of how integritous we are here at Ensuing Chapters. Or is the word I’m looking for integrian? Integrilicious?
None of the above.
Nevertheless, that’s my silly way to introduce a serious (and seriously good) book with the requisite disclaimer: I have known Todd Mitchell, the author of the young adult novel, Backwards, for about three years, studied under him and served as his teaching assistant in a nonfiction writing class. It’s important to establish this up front, because this will be a glowing review, and I can say with all integrity that the praise is deserved, not spooned out because I know the author.
And with that out of the way, let’s jump to the end. Or rather the beginning. Sort of.
Backwards begins with a teenaged boy, Dan, dead in the bathtub from an apparent suicide. Standing over the scene is our narrator, a Rider (a kind of immaterial wandering soul) who isn’t sure where he is, who he is or how he got there. It doesn’t take him long to realize that he is experiencing time in reverse. We observe Dan’s suicide and his preparations, his daily habits and behaviors, and once we meet pre-dead Dan, it’s easy to diagnose his terminal condition.
I believe the clinical term for it is: He’s an asshole.
But as time bends backward, we pick up more and more fragments of Dan’s life. Yeah, he’s an asshole, but he’s a teenager. Is that so odd? And maybe there’s something dark and vulnerable driving his bad behavior. Indeed there is, but he is also supported with love and encouraging voices, which he silences through self-deliverance.
This is a difficult book to describe, and I’m sure far more difficult to write. Mitchell, however, pulls it off. He taps a mainline to those cringe-worthy cafeteria moments when every little thing was life or death. High school was uncomfortable the first time, and doesn’t seem much better the second time around.
At least not at first.
The narrator, who is living Dan’s life in reverse, provides the wide-angle view that teenagers tend to lack. Actually, it’s a comforting vantage point, and if Dan could’ve seen his life from this perspective, he probably wouldn’t have ended up in the bathtub.
As I’ve often told youth groups as an addictions counselor: Teenagers aren’t stupid. Teenagers just do stupid things. That’s an important distinction, which becomes clear as we watch Dan try to make the right choices, but stumble along in that ham-handed manner that I recognize from my own high school memories. There are missed opportunities, mixed signals, mistaken intentions, the right words left unspoken and the worst ones screamed out loud.
Sound familiar?
That’s the beauty of Backwards. Though the time-manipulated narrative can be disorienting, we are grounded in the familiarity of Dan’s world. Sure, the fashion has changed, but the angst is the same as it always was and will be—and even that elicits a weird nostalgia. Even someone like me, who hated high school and all its cliques, will appreciate its stabilizing force within this chaos.
I also appreciate that the novel isn’t preachy. Of course, the message is clearly against suicide, but Mitchell isn’t talking us off the ledge with niceties. The truth can be vicious, and the author doesn’t recoil from the abyss. Through the character of the Rider, he digs into the horrors of high school and tries to come to terms with the trauma.
Is the Rider successful? The better question is, does it even matter? I’m not well-versed in literary theory, but at its core, Backwards, despite a dash of the spiritual realm, is an existentialist anthem.
Longtime readers know my affinity for existentialist anthems.
My point is that perhaps understanding your awkward years is better than changing them. By revisiting our past, we can be struck by how small everything looks in comparison. If only Dan could’ve seen what the Rider sees.
At least that’s the view from my early 40s. I’m not sure how a young adult would read it, but there’s no doubting the importance of Backwards for its intended audience. But I would argue that Backwards is as much, if not more, of a must-read for adults.
And I’d bet my integritude on that.
Backwards
By Todd Mitchell
Did you know there is no adjective form of the word “integrity”? Look it up. I was going to open this review with a declaration of how integritous we are here at Ensuing Chapters. Or is the word I’m looking for integrian? Integrilicious?
None of the above.
Nevertheless, that’s my silly way to introduce a serious (and seriously good) book with the requisite disclaimer: I have known Todd Mitchell, the author of the young adult novel, Backwards, for about three years, studied under him and served as his teaching assistant in a nonfiction writing class. It’s important to establish this up front, because this will be a glowing review, and I can say with all integrity that the praise is deserved, not spooned out because I know the author.
And with that out of the way, let’s jump to the end. Or rather the beginning. Sort of.
Backwards begins with a teenaged boy, Dan, dead in the bathtub from an apparent suicide. Standing over the scene is our narrator, a Rider (a kind of immaterial wandering soul) who isn’t sure where he is, who he is or how he got there. It doesn’t take him long to realize that he is experiencing time in reverse. We observe Dan’s suicide and his preparations, his daily habits and behaviors, and once we meet pre-dead Dan, it’s easy to diagnose his terminal condition.
I believe the clinical term for it is: He’s an asshole.
But as time bends backward, we pick up more and more fragments of Dan’s life. Yeah, he’s an asshole, but he’s a teenager. Is that so odd? And maybe there’s something dark and vulnerable driving his bad behavior. Indeed there is, but he is also supported with love and encouraging voices, which he silences through self-deliverance.
This is a difficult book to describe, and I’m sure far more difficult to write. Mitchell, however, pulls it off. He taps a mainline to those cringe-worthy cafeteria moments when every little thing was life or death. High school was uncomfortable the first time, and doesn’t seem much better the second time around.
At least not at first.
The narrator, who is living Dan’s life in reverse, provides the wide-angle view that teenagers tend to lack. Actually, it’s a comforting vantage point, and if Dan could’ve seen his life from this perspective, he probably wouldn’t have ended up in the bathtub.
As I’ve often told youth groups as an addictions counselor: Teenagers aren’t stupid. Teenagers just do stupid things. That’s an important distinction, which becomes clear as we watch Dan try to make the right choices, but stumble along in that ham-handed manner that I recognize from my own high school memories. There are missed opportunities, mixed signals, mistaken intentions, the right words left unspoken and the worst ones screamed out loud.
Sound familiar?
That’s the beauty of Backwards. Though the time-manipulated narrative can be disorienting, we are grounded in the familiarity of Dan’s world. Sure, the fashion has changed, but the angst is the same as it always was and will be—and even that elicits a weird nostalgia. Even someone like me, who hated high school and all its cliques, will appreciate its stabilizing force within this chaos.
I also appreciate that the novel isn’t preachy. Of course, the message is clearly against suicide, but Mitchell isn’t talking us off the ledge with niceties. The truth can be vicious, and the author doesn’t recoil from the abyss. Through the character of the Rider, he digs into the horrors of high school and tries to come to terms with the trauma.
Is the Rider successful? The better question is, does it even matter? I’m not well-versed in literary theory, but at its core, Backwards, despite a dash of the spiritual realm, is an existentialist anthem.
Longtime readers know my affinity for existentialist anthems.
My point is that perhaps understanding your awkward years is better than changing them. By revisiting our past, we can be struck by how small everything looks in comparison. If only Dan could’ve seen what the Rider sees.
At least that’s the view from my early 40s. I’m not sure how a young adult would read it, but there’s no doubting the importance of Backwards for its intended audience. But I would argue that Backwards is as much, if not more, of a must-read for adults.
And I’d bet my integritude on that.
October 28, 2013
“Backwards” is a YA novel that begins with the suicide of Dan, a popular high school student. The author takes us on a journey through Dan’s past in order to understand why Dan decided to commit suicide in the first place and whether his “Rider” can change the course of history. A few characters play an essential role that include TR (another Rider Dan’s Rider befriends), Teagan (Dan’s younger sister), and Cat (an artistic girl who runs outside the “popular” crowd, but is the object of Dan’s affection). “Backwards” deals with all sorts of high school drama that we, as the reader, have come to be familiar with in young adult high school fiction including bullying, cliques, romance and a nontraditional home life.
Unlike, “Thirteen Reasons Why” that, I believed, seemed to justify teen suicide all the while blaming others for it, “Backwards” attempts to understand the root cause of suicide. Dan’s Rider attempts to take ownership for his past actions and works hard to change them in order to create a different future for himself and the people around him. Throughout the book Dan’s Rider seems to understand the selfishness of suicide and even be a bit repulsed by it.
This book will make you think. It will make you frustrated, and it will help you understand just how your actions and choices affect others. It is a quick read. I continued reading late in the night just to find out what would happen next and whether or not Dan’s Rider was going to be able to figure out why he was there. The technique of traveling backwards day-by-day was unique and the journal-type style of writing organization kept me on track. The main characters and plot were mainly well developed.
Bottom line: I found myself anxious to find out what would happen next and stopping mid-chapter to discuss parts of the story with those around me, which to me are both signs of a great read! I urge anyone who is looking for a break from the ever popular vampires, zombies, faeries and post-apocalyptic teen fiction to give Todd Mitchell’s book, “Backwards” a shot. You won’t regret it!
Unlike, “Thirteen Reasons Why” that, I believed, seemed to justify teen suicide all the while blaming others for it, “Backwards” attempts to understand the root cause of suicide. Dan’s Rider attempts to take ownership for his past actions and works hard to change them in order to create a different future for himself and the people around him. Throughout the book Dan’s Rider seems to understand the selfishness of suicide and even be a bit repulsed by it.
This book will make you think. It will make you frustrated, and it will help you understand just how your actions and choices affect others. It is a quick read. I continued reading late in the night just to find out what would happen next and whether or not Dan’s Rider was going to be able to figure out why he was there. The technique of traveling backwards day-by-day was unique and the journal-type style of writing organization kept me on track. The main characters and plot were mainly well developed.
Bottom line: I found myself anxious to find out what would happen next and stopping mid-chapter to discuss parts of the story with those around me, which to me are both signs of a great read! I urge anyone who is looking for a break from the ever popular vampires, zombies, faeries and post-apocalyptic teen fiction to give Todd Mitchell’s book, “Backwards” a shot. You won’t regret it!
February 17, 2016
What made me pick up this book was the fact that the author would be attending READCON, an amazing event put on by the High Plains Library and specifically the Farr Library in Greeley, CO.
I browsed the display of books that Farr had presented in anticipation of the authors, and of course was drawn in by the compelling cover of Backwards. Additionally, my curiosity was piqued by the concept of the book. It was the Rider's fate to experience life backwards, linked to a body and a teenager named Dan that had taken his own life.
Suicide is an excruciatingly painful topic, one that arrests our thoughts- creating a blank in our minds when trying to understand it. Those of us past those turbulent years know how hard that period of life is, but we have no idea the depth of pain that other people experience or how they manage to cope with it. In this case, how they decide to give in.
Backwards is an attempt for a rider to figure out his host's situation, and in turn to attempt to understand life, about how we live though a series of events and decisions that are ours alone to make. It is a great lesson for teens to understand that they should always do their best to choose the right path and surround themselves with the right people. If they listen to their gut feeling, and be brave and noble in their efforts, they will live the kind of life they will look back and be proud about.
Todd Mitchell has a very insightful and engaging way of approaching this difficult subject. I was delighted to have chosen it out of the bunch, it was a "great" read.
I browsed the display of books that Farr had presented in anticipation of the authors, and of course was drawn in by the compelling cover of Backwards. Additionally, my curiosity was piqued by the concept of the book. It was the Rider's fate to experience life backwards, linked to a body and a teenager named Dan that had taken his own life.
Suicide is an excruciatingly painful topic, one that arrests our thoughts- creating a blank in our minds when trying to understand it. Those of us past those turbulent years know how hard that period of life is, but we have no idea the depth of pain that other people experience or how they manage to cope with it. In this case, how they decide to give in.
Backwards is an attempt for a rider to figure out his host's situation, and in turn to attempt to understand life, about how we live though a series of events and decisions that are ours alone to make. It is a great lesson for teens to understand that they should always do their best to choose the right path and surround themselves with the right people. If they listen to their gut feeling, and be brave and noble in their efforts, they will live the kind of life they will look back and be proud about.
Todd Mitchell has a very insightful and engaging way of approaching this difficult subject. I was delighted to have chosen it out of the bunch, it was a "great" read.
October 16, 2013
Two things really delighted me about this book. The first was how the action unfolds backwards; you're constantly reinterpreting what you know about the different characters and the world. People who seem wonderful or obnoxious on one day seem totally different when you discover what happened the day before to make them act that way, and yet it all hangs together beautifully.
The second thing, tied to that, is the way we slowly get to know the main character, Dan, and what drove him to suicide. At first we only see him from the outside, a sullen, withdrawn teenager. But the more we peel back the layers, the more we see him for who he is, some of it lovely, some of it awful, but all of it very, very human. It's a good reminder of how quick we are to judge people without knowing the facts, and just how much we may be missing.
The second thing, tied to that, is the way we slowly get to know the main character, Dan, and what drove him to suicide. At first we only see him from the outside, a sullen, withdrawn teenager. But the more we peel back the layers, the more we see him for who he is, some of it lovely, some of it awful, but all of it very, very human. It's a good reminder of how quick we are to judge people without knowing the facts, and just how much we may be missing.
September 2, 2013
I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of this amazing book-- now one of my all-time YA faves. Backwards is that rare, multi-layered kind of book that manages to tell a thrilling, page-turning story while prompting you to think about the big who-am-I questions of existence. I love books like this, ones that change your perspective on what it means to be alive. The unique characters and their world will stay with me for a long time.
October 6, 2013
I first became familiar with Todd Mitchell through his YA novel, The Secret to Lying. In that title, his main character recreates himself. In Backwards, the main character is trying to figure out who he is, pulling the reader along every inch of the way, back through time. I hesitate to call Backwards a time-travel novel, since time only moves in one direction - in reverse. When a "Rider" finds himself hovering above and then inhabiting Dan, a teenager who has just committed suicide, he does not understand what his role is, or what the sequence of events was to bring him to this moment. As the story unfolds, readers will discover that the next day is actually yesterday, for Dan. It is not until Dan's rider befriends another, named TR, that he begins to grasp what his potential is - and there are options. Through the rider, readers learn about Dan's broken family, problems at high school, and his longing for a relationship with a girl named Cat.
As it becomes apparent the rider may be able to change the future as he goes into the past, the pace and intensity of the story grows, giving readers the feeling of driving in reverse by looking in the rear view mirror. Mitchell artfully unfolds what keeps Dan, whom the rider nicknames "the zombie," from being wholly human and compassionate. And though the other rider, TR, seems complacent at first, his story becomes a beautiful parallel to Dan's, intersecting at the most unexpected moments.
Through Dan's story, we learn about bullying, including the acceptance of it by adults in the position of authority. Mitchell introduces this in bits and pieces; there are mean girls who harass Cat for looking and acting differently from them, a gay teenager in denial that calls his lover a fag when in public, and anti-Hispanic taunts and slurs. Being that October is National Bullying Prevention Month, this title would be an excellent choice for One Book One School program. Underage drinking and the negative aspects of it are laid out as well, but never with a heavy hand.
Backwards is totally unique in its offerings, with themes and issues that concern teenagers and their adults, told in language that compels the reader to keep going forward while considering the actions of the past. Highly recommended to readers grade 8 and up.
As it becomes apparent the rider may be able to change the future as he goes into the past, the pace and intensity of the story grows, giving readers the feeling of driving in reverse by looking in the rear view mirror. Mitchell artfully unfolds what keeps Dan, whom the rider nicknames "the zombie," from being wholly human and compassionate. And though the other rider, TR, seems complacent at first, his story becomes a beautiful parallel to Dan's, intersecting at the most unexpected moments.
Through Dan's story, we learn about bullying, including the acceptance of it by adults in the position of authority. Mitchell introduces this in bits and pieces; there are mean girls who harass Cat for looking and acting differently from them, a gay teenager in denial that calls his lover a fag when in public, and anti-Hispanic taunts and slurs. Being that October is National Bullying Prevention Month, this title would be an excellent choice for One Book One School program. Underage drinking and the negative aspects of it are laid out as well, but never with a heavy hand.
Backwards is totally unique in its offerings, with themes and issues that concern teenagers and their adults, told in language that compels the reader to keep going forward while considering the actions of the past. Highly recommended to readers grade 8 and up.
September 9, 2014
Man, this book. I'm really torn on how I feel about it. On the one hand, the backwards thing was cool, despite starting each day regularly (waking up in the morning to going to sleep at night, which I'll talk about later). Also, the characters were cool, and the Rider concept was intriguing. Easy to read, if a bit lacking in a few places.
On the other hand, it was very anti-climatic. From the beginning of the book I knew what had happened to Cat. I also knew Dan didn't do whatever she thought he did to her. Rider being oblivious to every hint kind of irritated me, too. Like dude, it's not that hard to figure out? I don't know, the climax didn't give me the effect I wanted. I guess because maybe the reader is supposed to know what happened already? No, because the movie Memento by Christopher Nolan was the same way, but it worked. I think this was different because it wasn't the day from beginning to end. It was backwards all the way, and the short term memory made it more intense. To make that work in the book it would have to start from the suicide and go back from nighttime through the day and have the day end when Dan wakes up in the morning. That way the audience has no idea what to expect, and it creates suspense. I guess that's just what I think, though. *shrug*
Oh, and the ending made no sense? Like how did all of that crap change in one chunk at the end? I re-read it three times, and I still have no clue how Rider changed things. (Maybe I should read the book again.) If all Rider had to do was just be himself (Dan) and give up, then what was his purpose? Was he Dan's soul? I feel like he was, but the term doesn't quite fit Rider. And who was leaving the cryptic messages on the wall? Rider? Dan? Jesus? AGHHH! Those things were never explained. It was confusing and left a sour taste in my mouth. I really wanted to love and adore this book (Look at the epic cover!) but I just can't do anything more than simply like it. The idea of going backwards was fantastic, but the execution, not so much. Three stars.
On the other hand, it was very anti-climatic. From the beginning of the book I knew what had happened to Cat. I also knew Dan didn't do whatever she thought he did to her. Rider being oblivious to every hint kind of irritated me, too. Like dude, it's not that hard to figure out? I don't know, the climax didn't give me the effect I wanted. I guess because maybe the reader is supposed to know what happened already? No, because the movie Memento by Christopher Nolan was the same way, but it worked. I think this was different because it wasn't the day from beginning to end. It was backwards all the way, and the short term memory made it more intense. To make that work in the book it would have to start from the suicide and go back from nighttime through the day and have the day end when Dan wakes up in the morning. That way the audience has no idea what to expect, and it creates suspense. I guess that's just what I think, though. *shrug*
Oh, and the ending made no sense? Like how did all of that crap change in one chunk at the end? I re-read it three times, and I still have no clue how Rider changed things. (Maybe I should read the book again.) If all Rider had to do was just be himself (Dan) and give up, then what was his purpose? Was he Dan's soul? I feel like he was, but the term doesn't quite fit Rider. And who was leaving the cryptic messages on the wall? Rider? Dan? Jesus? AGHHH! Those things were never explained. It was confusing and left a sour taste in my mouth. I really wanted to love and adore this book (Look at the epic cover!) but I just can't do anything more than simply like it. The idea of going backwards was fantastic, but the execution, not so much. Three stars.
December 4, 2013
Who wouldn't want to go backwards through time with the hope of changing something that didn't come out quite the way you wanted it to? In Backwards, by Todd Mitchell, the Rider begins traveling back through time, one day at a time. Attached to Dan, the teenager who commits suicide in the opening scene, the Rider goes along as Dan's life unfolds backwards, while seeking the reason for its own existence. Though its topic is depressing, the book is as thrilling to read as a roller coaster is to ride, as memorable as your first love, and as poetically beautiful as a field of blooming tulips. Backwards left me glad I choose to read it.
October 24, 2013
This book doesn't shy away from the anger, the mistakes, the misunderstandings, the emotional growing pains of being a teen. Nor does it trample the presence of possibility and hope. Instead of dwelling on the aftermath of suicide, it focuses on the before, the many small moments in a teen's life that can become all encompassing. Told in reverse, the reader follows events as they happen before understanding the underlying reason why. This is an intriguing, thought provoking read for parents and teens.
May 10, 2014
This was an odd book. I'm not even sure if I totally understood what I had read when I was finished it. There were a lot of things that didn't quite add up, in my mind. I mostly enjoyed it, and it was a good reminder that every person has their own personal demons they are battling. A very good effort, I enjoyed the uniqueness of the setup, even though I'm not sure if the actual execution worked.
December 6, 2018
Rated 3.5 really.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Fresh, well-executed premise. Great guessing game.
Cons: Lacks a strong emotional punch - though the very structure of the story accounts for that.
WARNING! Graphic depiction of suicide. Rape in the background.
Will appeal to: Those who like unusual premises, bookish puzzles, and stories about second chances - of the time-travel (but not sci-fi) variety.
As I already stated in the introductory section, this is NOT a sci-fi book, despite time travel being at its core. So you may probably enjoy it even if sci-fi is not your jam.
YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET
I'm fairly sure that you've never read anything like Backwards. Going back in time may be a pretty common book device, except I can't name another novel where not only the thing happens on a day-by-day basis - that is, every new day the narrator (the Rider) lives is, in fact, the day before, from start to finish - but the real protagonist (again, the Rider) is also unsubstantial and just a spectator at first; and later, when he tries to retroactively change what's to come, the flesh-and-blood character he's tied to (Dan) is oblivious of it - or even gets in the way. I know, this sounds like a mind-fuck...except it's easier to actually follow the story than to explain its logistics. Also, while the narrator tries to prevent a tragedy (that may not be the one we think it is in the first place) by slowly peeling layers of truth away and figuring how to influence things, we have our own mystery to solve - just WHO is the Rider, and how did he come to be? and are there any other entities like him? This makes for a fascinating read, even if Dan's everyday life is pretty average on the whole, and the Rider's interactions with...well, anyone are fairly limited at first. [...]
Whole review here.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Fresh, well-executed premise. Great guessing game.
Cons: Lacks a strong emotional punch - though the very structure of the story accounts for that.
WARNING! Graphic depiction of suicide. Rape in the background.
Will appeal to: Those who like unusual premises, bookish puzzles, and stories about second chances - of the time-travel (but not sci-fi) variety.
As I already stated in the introductory section, this is NOT a sci-fi book, despite time travel being at its core. So you may probably enjoy it even if sci-fi is not your jam.
YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET
I'm fairly sure that you've never read anything like Backwards. Going back in time may be a pretty common book device, except I can't name another novel where not only the thing happens on a day-by-day basis - that is, every new day the narrator (the Rider) lives is, in fact, the day before, from start to finish - but the real protagonist (again, the Rider) is also unsubstantial and just a spectator at first; and later, when he tries to retroactively change what's to come, the flesh-and-blood character he's tied to (Dan) is oblivious of it - or even gets in the way. I know, this sounds like a mind-fuck...except it's easier to actually follow the story than to explain its logistics. Also, while the narrator tries to prevent a tragedy (that may not be the one we think it is in the first place) by slowly peeling layers of truth away and figuring how to influence things, we have our own mystery to solve - just WHO is the Rider, and how did he come to be? and are there any other entities like him? This makes for a fascinating read, even if Dan's everyday life is pretty average on the whole, and the Rider's interactions with...well, anyone are fairly limited at first. [...]
Whole review here.
July 8, 2013
The book starts with Dan’s suicide which is when the Rider is first aware of his existence. The narrator or Rider has no idea what is going on but is at once disgusted with Dan’s apparent wasted life and the effect his suicide has on his sister and mother. When the Rider next wakes up Dan is alive and the Rider soon discovers that he is experiencing Dan’s life backwards. As the Rider goes through Dan’s life he slowly discovers the events leading up to Dan’s suicide. Can he gain control of Dan’s mind and prevent the suicide and the events leading up to it? Can he change the past? Could he get enough control and live Dan’s life and get the girl, Cat? By going backwards the Rider and the reader try to piece together events and at times both get the wrong information. This was a powerful book.
I read this a few days ago and I can’t get it out of my head. It is very powerful. I was a little creeped out when it started with Dan’s suicide but was intrigued with the narrator or Rider. Then as the Rider began living Dan’s life backwards I was sucked in. As more and more was revealed it became apparent what led to the suicide but so sad. The Rider tries to undo the mistakes that were made but because he doesn’t know all the details he can’t know if he is really making a difference. Things the Rider thinks he knows turn out to be false. I really enjoyed this and it has a very good message about cause and effect and consequences of our actions. I highly recommend it.
I read this a few days ago and I can’t get it out of my head. It is very powerful. I was a little creeped out when it started with Dan’s suicide but was intrigued with the narrator or Rider. Then as the Rider began living Dan’s life backwards I was sucked in. As more and more was revealed it became apparent what led to the suicide but so sad. The Rider tries to undo the mistakes that were made but because he doesn’t know all the details he can’t know if he is really making a difference. Things the Rider thinks he knows turn out to be false. I really enjoyed this and it has a very good message about cause and effect and consequences of our actions. I highly recommend it.
October 13, 2013
Wow -- This was an amazing book. . . Masterfully written. Mitchell finds a way to deal with suicide
(and other challenges that so many teens and families face) in a refreshingly non-glamorizing and
perspective-shifting way. I was gripped by the first chapter, and then found myself reading faster and faster,
eager to get to the end/beginning. When I finished, I was a little stunned, and immediately started reading
back through it with a new-found perspective. Eager for my friends to read it now to discuss it!
Love the cover and the trailer too!
(and other challenges that so many teens and families face) in a refreshingly non-glamorizing and
perspective-shifting way. I was gripped by the first chapter, and then found myself reading faster and faster,
eager to get to the end/beginning. When I finished, I was a little stunned, and immediately started reading
back through it with a new-found perspective. Eager for my friends to read it now to discuss it!
Love the cover and the trailer too!
July 10, 2020
The book opens with Dan killing himself, then walks us through the days leading up to that horrific event. As we ghost along with the "rider" who appeared when Dan died, we see the events that happened in the weeks prior to the suicide.
Strange things happen, people pull away, and Dan, once a popular student, is disliked by all. Even as the rider struggles to make sense of things, to FIX things, the reader (me) sees the events from a further distance and realizes not only what has happened but what will happen in the rider's path.
This book makes it easy to see that snap judgements aren't always right, that popular isn't always the best, and that things that aren't as they seem can be twisted and turned so that nothing comes out the way that you think it will from your attempts to meddle.
Strange things happen, people pull away, and Dan, once a popular student, is disliked by all. Even as the rider struggles to make sense of things, to FIX things, the reader (me) sees the events from a further distance and realizes not only what has happened but what will happen in the rider's path.
This book makes it easy to see that snap judgements aren't always right, that popular isn't always the best, and that things that aren't as they seem can be twisted and turned so that nothing comes out the way that you think it will from your attempts to meddle.
November 6, 2017
A Better Take on Teen Struggles
This story is so unique! The viewpoint of going backwards through the crucial events of Dan’s life is brilliant and more interesting than doing it through flashbacks. The overall concept reminds me of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why (and this book did it first), however this version does far less victimizing and blaming of the characters surrounding the main character. It’s a meaningful story for teens and adults and touches on some intense topics with honesty and care.
This story is so unique! The viewpoint of going backwards through the crucial events of Dan’s life is brilliant and more interesting than doing it through flashbacks. The overall concept reminds me of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why (and this book did it first), however this version does far less victimizing and blaming of the characters surrounding the main character. It’s a meaningful story for teens and adults and touches on some intense topics with honesty and care.
August 29, 2019
This left me in chills. There is so much truth within these lines of story. I do not understand why this is categorized a "thriller" - it is no such thing. This is a deeply psychological and spiritual address of every day behavior and its impact, both large and small, on real life events.
November 9, 2017
Absorbing, well told story
Depressing subject but the story and the telling make you care. Also just a good story and a good read.
Depressing subject but the story and the telling make you care. Also just a good story and a good read.
August 26, 2016
We are lucky to have Todd Mitchell, his talent and prose bring voice to pressing issues for teens and young people.
I sent a letter to Mr. Mitchell about the affect the book had on me, and here is what I said. I hope the letter states the importance of the book. Plus, look this isn't the same old tune about teenager feeling left out, it's original, paranormal, a recalibration to a genre that's swollen in a Barnes and Noble near you....there are enough moments in Mitchell's prose and story that brings illumination to the inner struggling of trying to feel like you matter, that you want to be accepted, a voice within an ear the struggle to feel okay with the body you're born into, the skin you find yourself stuck in, and within that skin, finding an identity; and identity to where you can snap a conviction. This is important stuff. Suicide, loneliness, bullying, relationships, sexual assault, this stuff is happening in the trenches of day-to-day life...we need to connect, and this book can be a bridge in that conversation. It's not an antidote, but maybe its a conversation starter, even if it's a conversation to start with yourself, reader.
Here's the letter:
I read your book over the weekend. I wanted to thank you for writing it, it's a book that handles a barrel of issues that affect young people, especially those that feel they have a secret self under what they (we) present--the piece of us clawing, yelling out in a desperation, the part of us we are afraid people won't accept. Rider connects it at the end, "In that moment, I finally understood him. How much he hurt. How deeply he cared. How noble and flawed we bother were." Wasn't it Mark Twain that said something to the affect, "we are a volcano underneath, a galactic storm, and words can only barely tread the surface to describing it, barely sketch the borders-what burns inside." You sketch this beautifully, daring to explore that underneath, the stuff going on inside, our language and actions are just the vapor, the heat. And I appreciate this book deeply because I felt much like Cat, yearning to be accepted. Sometimes we have to dare to do what matters like Dan does at the end by ignoring Finn's text message, by getting gas, getting donuts with his sister, asking her important questions, 'are those your friends?' I wish I read this book when I was younger and in high school. It would have given me some courage and made me feel less alone, but I know there are young people out there that will (have) read this book and feel stronger, feel like they are accepted, or understand what they are going through, feeling there is a voice out there willing to talk about these things. We must live forward, as your epitaph states, and leave our future to possibilities...and in some ways we must accept what we are, accept things that happen, be allowed to like the things we want to like (Cat with her art, Alice and Wonderland for example) understand it by looking back, but also understand we can move forward and live. No matter the terrible things, we can still live forward. We may see "gold leaves against a blue sky.. The smell of apples and smoke in the air. A girl with a scar above her lip looking back and smiling. A taste of sweetness on my tongue." Finding the courage to be who you are, to feel like your life matters is what's all about. Thank you for bringing these issues up in your wonderfully crafted story. The people around us, the events that happen, sometimes make it harder for people to understand the underneath. You rock, keep up the great writing.
I sent a letter to Mr. Mitchell about the affect the book had on me, and here is what I said. I hope the letter states the importance of the book. Plus, look this isn't the same old tune about teenager feeling left out, it's original, paranormal, a recalibration to a genre that's swollen in a Barnes and Noble near you....there are enough moments in Mitchell's prose and story that brings illumination to the inner struggling of trying to feel like you matter, that you want to be accepted, a voice within an ear the struggle to feel okay with the body you're born into, the skin you find yourself stuck in, and within that skin, finding an identity; and identity to where you can snap a conviction. This is important stuff. Suicide, loneliness, bullying, relationships, sexual assault, this stuff is happening in the trenches of day-to-day life...we need to connect, and this book can be a bridge in that conversation. It's not an antidote, but maybe its a conversation starter, even if it's a conversation to start with yourself, reader.
Here's the letter:
I read your book over the weekend. I wanted to thank you for writing it, it's a book that handles a barrel of issues that affect young people, especially those that feel they have a secret self under what they (we) present--the piece of us clawing, yelling out in a desperation, the part of us we are afraid people won't accept. Rider connects it at the end, "In that moment, I finally understood him. How much he hurt. How deeply he cared. How noble and flawed we bother were." Wasn't it Mark Twain that said something to the affect, "we are a volcano underneath, a galactic storm, and words can only barely tread the surface to describing it, barely sketch the borders-what burns inside." You sketch this beautifully, daring to explore that underneath, the stuff going on inside, our language and actions are just the vapor, the heat. And I appreciate this book deeply because I felt much like Cat, yearning to be accepted. Sometimes we have to dare to do what matters like Dan does at the end by ignoring Finn's text message, by getting gas, getting donuts with his sister, asking her important questions, 'are those your friends?' I wish I read this book when I was younger and in high school. It would have given me some courage and made me feel less alone, but I know there are young people out there that will (have) read this book and feel stronger, feel like they are accepted, or understand what they are going through, feeling there is a voice out there willing to talk about these things. We must live forward, as your epitaph states, and leave our future to possibilities...and in some ways we must accept what we are, accept things that happen, be allowed to like the things we want to like (Cat with her art, Alice and Wonderland for example) understand it by looking back, but also understand we can move forward and live. No matter the terrible things, we can still live forward. We may see "gold leaves against a blue sky.. The smell of apples and smoke in the air. A girl with a scar above her lip looking back and smiling. A taste of sweetness on my tongue." Finding the courage to be who you are, to feel like your life matters is what's all about. Thank you for bringing these issues up in your wonderfully crafted story. The people around us, the events that happen, sometimes make it harder for people to understand the underneath. You rock, keep up the great writing.
October 23, 2013
Full disclosure: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads program.
The story follows a disembodied spirit with no memory, who witnesses the suicide of a teenager named Dan, and finds himself drawn inside... only to wake up inside Dan's body and everything's fine. Soon he realizes that every day he lives through takes him one day further back in time, and through watching his host's actions, and the actions of his family, former friends, schoolmates, as well as the girl he seems obsessed with, the mysteries of the people around him gradually become unveiled and The Rider becomes convinced he has a purpose. He has to gain control of his body and change what happened, somehow.
I actually quite liked the book, it's brisk and engaging, and, one major good sign, while I was between reading sessions, I frequently found myself thinking back to what might happen. The characters felt real, to the point I actually wanted more info about their lives than we got, and the central mystery caught my imagination (although it did that merely from reading the description).
It's not perfect, of course. Some aspects of it, including major parts of the 'big mystery' are a little too predictable, and the main character doesn't seem to think of rather obvious things to try (or ask rather obvious questions about his nature)... and, as I said, I do wish we could have gotten more on some of these characters and their lives. The nature of the story makes that difficult, but it felt like there were some plot threads that led nowhere, and I would have rather he found a way to have it all pay off. My biggest problem is with the ending. Now, to be fair, for any story where time-travel-like-shenanigans are involved, the ending is always the trickiest part, and even some of the most famous in the genre muck it up. So I don't hold it against it as I might with a more straightforward story... but it still disappointed me. It was too quick, too pat, and it felt like it rendered much of the main character's early struggles almost worse than pointless. I don't think it really fits all that well with the themes I think the author was going for, either. But it's one of those cases where I liked the journey enough to forgive the ending.
As it's a Young-Adult novel, I always try to do that mental calculation about how I would have felt about it, were I still in the targeted age group, and I think I would have liked it even more. I was a little less critical and the setting would be at least somewhat more relevant to my life. It deals with almost stereotypical 'teen issues' like bullying and teen suicide, and others, and might come off slightly too targeted to an older reader. I believe I'd probably give it 4 stars were I a teen, compared to 3 now, and, in this case, I think it's more fair to make my 'official' score what teen-me would think. But both scores are firmly in the 'enjoyment' camp, and, were it not for the weak ending, I probably would have given it four stars even as an adult. I will probably, at some point, read it again to view the story with the benefit of hindsight over how everything turns out, which puts it above most books already. I do think this is one of those teen novels that can be enjoyed by adults and teens alike (as long as those adults don't mind reading about the lives of teens).
The story follows a disembodied spirit with no memory, who witnesses the suicide of a teenager named Dan, and finds himself drawn inside... only to wake up inside Dan's body and everything's fine. Soon he realizes that every day he lives through takes him one day further back in time, and through watching his host's actions, and the actions of his family, former friends, schoolmates, as well as the girl he seems obsessed with, the mysteries of the people around him gradually become unveiled and The Rider becomes convinced he has a purpose. He has to gain control of his body and change what happened, somehow.
I actually quite liked the book, it's brisk and engaging, and, one major good sign, while I was between reading sessions, I frequently found myself thinking back to what might happen. The characters felt real, to the point I actually wanted more info about their lives than we got, and the central mystery caught my imagination (although it did that merely from reading the description).
It's not perfect, of course. Some aspects of it, including major parts of the 'big mystery' are a little too predictable, and the main character doesn't seem to think of rather obvious things to try (or ask rather obvious questions about his nature)... and, as I said, I do wish we could have gotten more on some of these characters and their lives. The nature of the story makes that difficult, but it felt like there were some plot threads that led nowhere, and I would have rather he found a way to have it all pay off. My biggest problem is with the ending. Now, to be fair, for any story where time-travel-like-shenanigans are involved, the ending is always the trickiest part, and even some of the most famous in the genre muck it up. So I don't hold it against it as I might with a more straightforward story... but it still disappointed me. It was too quick, too pat, and it felt like it rendered much of the main character's early struggles almost worse than pointless. I don't think it really fits all that well with the themes I think the author was going for, either. But it's one of those cases where I liked the journey enough to forgive the ending.
As it's a Young-Adult novel, I always try to do that mental calculation about how I would have felt about it, were I still in the targeted age group, and I think I would have liked it even more. I was a little less critical and the setting would be at least somewhat more relevant to my life. It deals with almost stereotypical 'teen issues' like bullying and teen suicide, and others, and might come off slightly too targeted to an older reader. I believe I'd probably give it 4 stars were I a teen, compared to 3 now, and, in this case, I think it's more fair to make my 'official' score what teen-me would think. But both scores are firmly in the 'enjoyment' camp, and, were it not for the weak ending, I probably would have given it four stars even as an adult. I will probably, at some point, read it again to view the story with the benefit of hindsight over how everything turns out, which puts it above most books already. I do think this is one of those teen novels that can be enjoyed by adults and teens alike (as long as those adults don't mind reading about the lives of teens).
February 19, 2017
He wakes up to see blood dripping and blooming in a bathtub full of water. He tries to focus, to figure out what is happening, but there is only panic and people rushing to try to save him. And then black. When he wakes up the next day, it is as if nothing has happened. He gets up and goes through his routine, trying to understand this life he now has to live. This is the existence of a Rider; a soul who comes into the body of a person who is in need of help. This Rider is with Dan, and is traveling back in Dan's life day by day to learn how to help Dan in order to keep him from committing suicide. The Rider learns about Dan's family, the girl he wants to love but can't seem to, and his role in a party that has changed the direction of his life. The Rider does his best to help Dan see what he can do and how he can change; now he just has to wait to see if anything he has done will change the course of Dan's life. Even though this book started with a very intense scene, I liked the course of the plot. I liked that it moved backward in time to tell the story of Dan and his life leading to his suicide. To me, suicide is a very selfish way to die, and this story was no different to that end, but I did like how Dan seemed to learn something from his Rider and it seemed that he would change his views and his life.
December 30, 2013
What a treat this book was! While exploring questions about whether it's possible to change the way things turn out even when you know what's going to happen, the book also examines some of the usual dramas of high school during which cliques form and judge others based on their appearances and small physical flaws somehow are blown out of proportion. The book begins with a shocking scene--the suicide of Dan, the book's main character, and the appearance of the Rider, someone who inhabits Dan's body briefly. While the Rider tries to figure out what's going on and why he's even here, Dan's days move backward in time, allowing him and the book's readers to figure out what led to Dan's death. The Rider is drawn to Cat, an artistic girl who has her own style of dressing and thinking but who avoids Dan completely. As the days unfold, the complicated relationships among several of the book's characters are revealed in somewhat surprising fashion. Despite his best efforts, though, the Rider watches as all the bad things he knows are going to happen still occur, and searches for the one action that might make all the difference in the world to all of the characters. Reading this one was like being whirled around in a slightly out-of-control Ferris wheel. I had lots of fun trying to figure out just what was going on, and I continued to think about how much (or how little) control each of us has over our lives long after I finished the book.
June 13, 2016
Um, I kind of accidentally read this whole book in one sitting! The writing felt a little clunky at times, and I'm still a bit confused/concerned about a few things , but I actually really like that a lot is left unexplained and that it feels so open-ended, so I can sort of imagine the direction I want things to go in from there. And though I had some things figured out fairly early on, I still found watching the Rider live through each day really compelling. It's a stressful, sad book, but the finish feels hopeful to me...
February 5, 2014
The book wasn't quite what I expected when the blurb said it was a thriller however I did enjoy the read.
The book starts with Dan's suicide and his "spirit" hanging over him observing and wondering who he himself is and what he has to do with the dead boy in the bathtub. As things unfold for the spirit he lives Dan's life in reverse and all the while he is looking for the answers to who he is and how he is connected to Dan. Then he gets a fixation on Dan's girlfriend who won't have anything to do with Dan. That happenstance is explained as the story unfolds.
My thoughts are, when the spirit gets where he is going, will he be able to change the future and it's outcome or will Dan still commit suicide.
A very interesting read.
I received this book through the Goodreads First Reads program in return for an honest review which I feel that this is most definitely.
The book starts with Dan's suicide and his "spirit" hanging over him observing and wondering who he himself is and what he has to do with the dead boy in the bathtub. As things unfold for the spirit he lives Dan's life in reverse and all the while he is looking for the answers to who he is and how he is connected to Dan. Then he gets a fixation on Dan's girlfriend who won't have anything to do with Dan. That happenstance is explained as the story unfolds.
My thoughts are, when the spirit gets where he is going, will he be able to change the future and it's outcome or will Dan still commit suicide.
A very interesting read.
I received this book through the Goodreads First Reads program in return for an honest review which I feel that this is most definitely.
April 14, 2014
This book has taken the spot as my favorite book.
A boy named Dan has just committed suicide and you witness the pain and suffering from his mom and sister.You think it is all over but the next day you wake up and he is fine.How could this be? You, the Rider are living his life backwards to see why he. Omitted suicide.This book is a emotional roller coaster and you figure out one thing can change your future.You follow along with Dan as you meet Cat,Teagan,Flynn and Waster as you live a boys life backwards.
I highly recommended this book to anyone going through a hard time or need some love and motivation in their life.
A boy named Dan has just committed suicide and you witness the pain and suffering from his mom and sister.You think it is all over but the next day you wake up and he is fine.How could this be? You, the Rider are living his life backwards to see why he. Omitted suicide.This book is a emotional roller coaster and you figure out one thing can change your future.You follow along with Dan as you meet Cat,Teagan,Flynn and Waster as you live a boys life backwards.
I highly recommended this book to anyone going through a hard time or need some love and motivation in their life.
June 19, 2014
So, now I've read two Todd Mitchell books. I'm detecting a theme: they are both pretty dark and depressing. That's probably a good thing according to my taste; it beats the fluffy drivel that is most YA lit. Why do I like YA lit when it is mostly so cheese?
The whole telling the story backwards bit works pretty well and adds a certain odd suspense. I'd rather not read about teen rape and suicide, but I know they are real and need exposure.
Brave writing, but spotty in places. I had to go back to find out why a key moment went down the way it did. Turns out it was oblique - I think that is the word - and didn't really make sense.
Keep writing, TM. I think you have a gem in you.
December 18, 2013
This was an engaging read with a great narrator. Reading this book was like slowly peeling back the layers of an onion. Each level revealed something pertinent to the story. I guessed early on what was going on, but it was still engaging to read. This book definitely made you think about suicide and how badly someone must be hurting to take their own life. I loved how Dan went from a despised character to one that you genuinely felt sorry for. I will absolutely be looking for more titles by this author.
May 14, 2016
It saddens me that books like this one are not more widely read. It works on so many levels. A brutally honest look at the affects of suicide, a suspenseful plot, a mind bending concept that rivals Inception, and heartbreakingly real characters. I assure you: you have never read anything like this. You're local bookstore might not have it, because they're too busy ordering copies of the new sensational dystopian series or romances with every mythical creature imaginable. This one is better. Trust me.
March 18, 2014
What an incredibly imaginative book! As the Rider and Dan coexist while Dan's life moves backwards from his suicide toward the inevitable tragedy that he tries to stop before it occurs, readers will be on the edge of their seats. It is hard to describe this book without experiencing the reading of it because it is so unique, but as things come together successfully (and with some surprises) in the end it harbors much food for thought.
October 19, 2013
I received this book as a Good Reads winner. I love the storyline with the story starting from the reader working backwards from the conclusion that gripped them right from the beginning. The story is an easy read and the author does a great job keeping the reader coming back for more. Even though it is rated YA, it definitely is a book for readers of all ages.
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