The Shape of Lost Things
Will be published approx. on 18. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-0-06-325660-6 (ISBN)
Description
"Compelling and beautifully written... Everett's sophomore novel story is sure to captivate readers." - Janae Marks, New York Times bestselling author of On Air with Zoe Washington
From the award-winning author of The Probability of Everything, which has been called "one of the best books I have read this year (maybe ever)" (Colby Sharp, Nerdy Book Club) and "Powerful" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), comes a heartfelt exploration of family and change as twelve-year-old Skye reunites with her older brother, Finn, after he spent four years on the run with their father.
Skye Nickson's world changed forever when her dad went on the run with her brother, Finn. It's been four years without Finn's jokes, four years without her father's old soul music, and four years of Skye filling in as Rent-a-Finn on his MIA birthdays for their mom. Finn's birthday is always difficult, but at least Skye has her best friends, Reece and Jax, to lean on, even if Reece has started acting too cool for them.
But this year is different because after Finn's birthday, they get a call that he's finally been found. Tall, quiet, and secretive, this Finn is nothing like the brother she grew up with. He keeps taking late-night phone calls and losing his new expensive gifts, and he doesn't seem to remember any of their inside jokes or secrets.
As Skye tries to make sense of it all through the lens of her old Polaroid camera, she starts to wonder: Could this Finn be someone else entirely? And if everyone else has changed, does it mean that Skye has to change too?
"An engaging look at grief, friendship, and how to remain who you are when everything around you is changing." - Claire Swinarski, author of What Happened to Rachel Riley?
"An engaging and unputdownable read." - Booklist (starred review)
"A stellar middle-grade novel." - Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"A recommended first purchase for all libraries serving tweens and teens." - School Library Journal (starred review)
From the award-winning author of The Probability of Everything, which has been called "one of the best books I have read this year (maybe ever)" (Colby Sharp, Nerdy Book Club) and "Powerful" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), comes a heartfelt exploration of family and change as twelve-year-old Skye reunites with her older brother, Finn, after he spent four years on the run with their father.
Skye Nickson's world changed forever when her dad went on the run with her brother, Finn. It's been four years without Finn's jokes, four years without her father's old soul music, and four years of Skye filling in as Rent-a-Finn on his MIA birthdays for their mom. Finn's birthday is always difficult, but at least Skye has her best friends, Reece and Jax, to lean on, even if Reece has started acting too cool for them.
But this year is different because after Finn's birthday, they get a call that he's finally been found. Tall, quiet, and secretive, this Finn is nothing like the brother she grew up with. He keeps taking late-night phone calls and losing his new expensive gifts, and he doesn't seem to remember any of their inside jokes or secrets.
As Skye tries to make sense of it all through the lens of her old Polaroid camera, she starts to wonder: Could this Finn be someone else entirely? And if everyone else has changed, does it mean that Skye has to change too?
"An engaging look at grief, friendship, and how to remain who you are when everything around you is changing." - Claire Swinarski, author of What Happened to Rachel Riley?
"An engaging and unputdownable read." - Booklist (starred review)
"A stellar middle-grade novel." - Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"A recommended first purchase for all libraries serving tweens and teens." - School Library Journal (starred review)
Reviews / Votes
The Shape of Lost Things is a compelling and beautifully written portrayal of a complicated sibling relationship. With friendship conflicts, a first crush, and STEAM themes weaved in, Everett's sophomore novel story is sure to captivate readers! - Janae Marks, New York Times bestselling author of On Air with Zoe Washington"The Shape of Lost Things is an engaging look at grief, friendship, and how to remain who you are when everything around you is changing. It has a pitch-perfect voice and a heroine to root for. Skye's journey will stay with kids for a long time. An absolute must-read!" - Claire Swinarski, author of What Happened to Rachel Riley?
"Everett skillfully explores complex themes of grief, loss, and change through the eyes of a child. Skye battles with feeling like an outcast within her family-like the only person who's "un-special." She also explores what it means to learn to accept reality and understand that change is necessary in life... A well-wrought account of a journey toward truth." - Kirkus Reviews
"Everett acutely captures the struggles and nuances of changing friendship dynamics, shifting family roles, walking the line between truth and loyalty, and handling big emotions... A cast of gorgeously developed characters and realistic dialogue, layered with the emotional arc and relatable middle-school struggles, makes for an engaging and unputdownable read." - Booklist (starred review)
"A stellar middle-grade novel told through the eyes of an introverted tween trying to heal from trauma as she finds her place in a new, blended family... an excellent read for fans of Renee Watson or Kekla Magoon's books for young readers." - Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"This engaging coming-of-age story gives voice to complicated and traumatic feelings caused by divorce and estrangement, to changes in family and friendships, and to the difficulty of accepting the inevitability of change." - Horn Book Magazine
"Part mystery, this emotional roller-coaster will have readers hoping for the best but waiting for the other shoe to drop. Fans of Everett's debut, The Probability of Everything, will appreciate her masterly ability to build mounting dread through the (seemingly) ordinary.... A recommended first purchase for all libraries serving tweens and teens." - School Library Journal (starred review)
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Third Grade to Seventh Grade, Interest Age: From 8 to 12 years
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
170 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-325660-6 (9780063256606)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Sarah Everett is the author of The Probability of Everything as well as several books for teens. Charlotte's Web was the first book that ever made her cry, and while she despises spiders, she still has an abiding love of stories that move her. When she is not reading or writing, she is dreaming about summer, gearing up for her next travel adventure, perfecting her tree pose, or yodeling with her dog. She lives in western Canada.