The Disappearances - by Emily Bain Murphy (Paperback)

About the Book

Emily Bain Murphy's magical debut young adult novel THE DISAPPEARANCES follows a teen girl who moves to her recently deceased mother's hometown and discovers that it is cursed to lose the experiences that weave life together--the sound of music, the stars in the sky, the ability to dream--and that her mom may be to blame.

Book Synopsis

Emily Bain Murphy's magical debut young adult novel THE DISAPPEARANCES follows a teen girl who moves to her recently deceased mother's hometown and discovers that it is cursed to lose the experiences that weave life together--the sound of music, the stars in the sky, the ability to dream--and that her mom may be to blame.

Every seven years something disappears in the town of Sterling: reflections, dreams, colors, stars. When Aila Quinn arrives, she realizes why her deceased mother, Juliet, never spoke of growing up there--the town is cursed to lose the experiences that weave life together, and everyone thinks Juliet is to blame.

Aila sets out to clear her mother's name with the help of George, whose goofy charm makes him a fast friend; Beas, the enigmatic violinist who writes poetry on her knees; and William, whose pull on Aila's heart terrifies her.

The Disappearances is a bewitching tale full of intrigue, beauty, and dread that will leave you entranced.

But in a town that thrives on secrets, clearing her mother's name will be more dangerous than she ever imagined. What will Aila risk to uncover the truth?

• Magical Realism Meets Historical Fiction: Step into 1942, where a small town is losing everything that matters--reflections, dreams, colors, and stars--and only mysterious items called Variants can bring them back.
• A Daughter's Dangerous Quest: Aila is determined to clear her mother's name, but every clue she uncovers points to a darker web of family secrets than she ever imagined.
• Slow Burn Romance: She's drawn to the enigmatic William, but in a town where nothing is as it seems, trusting her heart could be the most dangerous move of all.
• Atmospheric & Lyrical Prose: A bewitching, beautifully written tale of intrigue and dread perfect for fans of The Night Circus and The Ten Thousand Doors of January.

Review Quotes

A Bookish Must Read YA Book of the Summer A Barnes & Noble Teen Most Anticipated Book of the Second Half of 2017 A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, 12-14 category "The Disappearances is a delicious mix of mystery, fantasy and romance." --Bookpage "At its heart, The Disappearances is a carousel of sentimental acts, of regret, the many kinds of love, the people we love, and the ways people, places, and things never truly leave us even if they've been taken. The adventure to unravel the riddle of The Disappearances made my heart race."--Ravenous for Reads "How do we find the words to emphasize just how much we loved and enjoyed this novel? 'The Disappearances' had us captivated within it's spell from the very first page... was just beautiful, heartbreaking and irresistible...We definitely recommend this read and we are warning you, remember the name 'Emily Bain Murphy' as she is a rising author who will just leave you in awe, page after page! --Pocket Full of Pages "Thick with mystery, buried secrets, and magic, nothing is safe in The Disappearances. Be careful, or you might lose yourself in this strange and wondrous world, where stars go missing, reflections don't exist, and the question, how much would you sacrifice for love? is given entirely new meaning. I adored this book!"-Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestsellingauthor of CARAVAL "The Disappearances is purely poetic--a beautifully woven story with enough heart to take on its own life."--Lindsay Cummings, New York Times bestselling author of THE MURDER COMPLEX "The Disappearances is a dazzling debut, as glimmering as the Variants themselves, with a haunting mystery, wondrous world building, and a finely wrought family at its heart. I adored it." --Jessica Spotswood, author of The Cahill Witch Chronicles ? " Sumptuous worldbuilding, richly developed characters, and a swoon-worthy romance elevate this delightful, fantasy-tinged mystery." --PW, starred review "...delightfully whimsical and unsettling...a story bursting with color and originality." --Kirkus "The riddle behind the town's curse is an intricate and surprising one, and readers will happily join the clever and witty Aila on her hunt for clues." --Bulletin ". . . Murphy's debut is no doubt ambitious . . . expertly woven world, spun with secrets, lush with literary allusion, and shimmering with magic (quite literally), is a place many readers will happily disappear into." --Booklist "The Disappearances is a book of wonder and mystery by first time novelist, Emily Bain Murphy. It is well crafted and the plot is memorable and complex. Shakespeare's words help solve the mystery, leaving the reader with a sense of hope as well as awe. This book should appeal to young adults and adults. The eloquent writing style and the well-researched inclusion of historical details make it memorable. Aila and Miles often use one word to summarize an experience, calling it a finishing word. My finishing word after reading The Disappearances is sublime."--Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE, an ALAN pick Nov/Dec 2016

About the Author

Emily Bain Murphy grew up in Tokyo and Hong Kong, graduated from Tufts with a major in creative writing, and now lives in San Francisco with her family. She has been published in the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Monthly magazine. The Disappearances is Emily's debut novel. Visit her at www.emilybainmurphy.com and on Twitter at @EBain.