The Hidden Memory of Objects - by Danielle Mages Amato (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Megan Brown's brother Tyler is dead, but the cops are killing him all over again. They say he died of a drug overdose, potentially suicide--something Megan cannot accept. Determined to figure out what happened in the months before Tyler's death, Megan turns to the things he left behind. After all, she understands the stories objects can tell--at fifteen, she is a gifted collage artist with a flair for creating found-object pieces. However, Megan now realizes that her artistic talent has developed into something more: she can see memories attached to some of Tyler's belongings--and those memories reveal a brother she never knew"--Dust jacket flap.

Book Synopsis

"Unforgettable and impossible to put down--this novel is heart-pounding suspense at its best. A stunning debut." --Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures and author of The Lovely Reckless

The Hidden Memory of Objects is a highly original and beautifully written debut mystery novel with a speculative element, perfect for readers who loved Gayle Forman's If I Stay.

Megan Brown's brother, Tyler, is dead, but the cops are killing him all over again. They say he died of a drug overdose, potentially suicide--something Megan cannot accept. Determined to figure out what happened in the months before Tyler's death, Megan turns to the things he left behind. After all, she understands the stories objects can tell--at fifteen, she is a gifted collage artist with a flair for creating found-object pieces. However, Megan now realizes that her artistic talent has developed into something more: she can see memories attached to some of Tyler's belongings--and those memories reveal a brother she never knew.

Enlisting the help of an artifact detective who shares her ability and specializes in murderabilia--objects tainted by violence or the deaths of their owners--Megan finds herself drawn into a world of painful personal and national memories. Along with a trusted classmate and her brother's charming friend, she chases down the troubling truth about Tyler across Washington, DC, while reclaiming her own stifled identity with a vengeance.

But as she uncovers her brother's secret life, will the truth be more dangerous than the lies?

• YA Paranormal Suspense: Megan's emerging psychic abilities are her only tool to find out what really happened to her brother, Tyler. But every vision comes with a cost.
• A Supernatural Mystery: From a mysterious wooden box to a connection with Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth, Megan follows a trail of historical artifacts through Washington, DC to find the truth.
• Uncovering a Brother's Secret Life: The brother Megan knew was the school's golden boy. The memories he left behind reveal a stranger involved in secrets she can't comprehend.
• Unlikely Allies: She'll have to trust a mysterious friend of her brother's and an "artifact detective" who shares her strange ability, but everyone seems to be hiding something.

Review Quotes

"This debut novel is fast-paced and engaging, and the diverse characters...are endearing. The elements of U.S. history add layers to this unique and enjoyable read." - SLJ

"An electrifying debut, The Hidden Memory of Objects is both heart-stopping and heartbreaking. You'll carry a piece of it with you forever." - Kimberly Derting, author of the Body Finder series

"The Hidden Memory of Objects is a tense and compelling mystery novel, but it's also a heartfelt examination of the deeper mysteries of how we ever come to know each other and the transformative power of grief. A fascinating, thoroughly enjoyable read." - Cynthia Hand, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Time We Say Goodbye

"Unforgettable and impossible to put down--this novel is heart-pounding suspense at its best. A stunning debut." - Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures and author of The Lovely Reckless

"Amato's well-constructed debut novel is inventive, clever, and realistic even within the psychometric boundaries. The mixture of historical and political themes, with class and racial differences, serves up a very different type of mystery." - Booklist

"Debut novelist Amato adeptly mixes the paranormal and historical to build a page-turning mystery. Readers will gladly follow along as [Megan] inches closer to uncovering the secrets of the objects her brother held dear." - Publishers Weekly

"Amato's impressive debut has something for everyone. This captivating read is at its core a mystery, but also includes interesting elements of American history--and even a touch of the supernatural. With a strong female protagonist and well-crafted secondary characters, this is an engaging page-turner." - Romantic Times

"A thrilling mystery that thinks--about grief and love, about the people we are and the people we're quietly becoming." - Brittany Cavallaro, New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Charlotte and The Last of August

"Amato's keen eye for detail in her complex characters and in her Washington, D.C. setting make for a richly engrossing reading experience; readers who like mysteries with a strong sense of place, a connection to history, and a dash of friendship and romance will enjoy this." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books