
A boy's vanished brother leads him to uncover hidden magic and risk everything to save him.
Charlie O'Reilly's brother, Liam, vanished without a trace, leaving no memory of his existence. Only Charlie and his friend Ana believe in Liam's reality. When a mysterious note in Liam's handwriting appears, it propels them into a world of hidden magic. As they unravel the mystery, they face a daunting choice: save Liam or risk being forgotten themselves. Can they uncover the truth before it's too late? This gripping tale explores the bonds of family and the courage to confront the unknown.
“As puzzle pieces click into place, The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly reveals that it’s stories–and family–that make us whole. A deeply satisfying and beautiful book.” –Elana K. Arnold, National Book Award finalist and author of The Question of MiraclesCharlie O’Reilly is an only child. Which is why it makes everyone uncomfortable when he talks about his brother.Liam. His eight-year-old kid brother, who, up until a year ago, slept in the bunk above Charlie, took pride in being as annoying as possible, and was the only person who could make Charlie laugh until it hurt.Then came the morning when the bunk, and Liam, disappeared forever. No one even remembers him–not Charlie’s mother, who has been lost in her own troubles; and not Charlie’s father, who is gone frequently on business trips. The only person who believes Charlie is his best friend, Ana–even if she has no memory of Liam, she is as determined as Charlie is to figure out what happened to him.The search seems hopeless–until Charlie receives a mysterious note, written in Liam’s handwriting. The note leads Charlie and Ana to make some profound discoveries about a magic they didn’t know existed, and they soon realize that if they’re going to save Liam, they may need to risk being forgotten themselves, forever.Rebecca K.S. Ansari’s debut novel is a stunning contemporary fantasy about love, loss, and the power to forgive that we all have inside us–even if we sometimes forget that it’s there.
What families may want to know
Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.
LGBTQ
One chapter is focused on describing a supporting character's reason for “wishing he’d never been born.” He tells that he doesn’t like girls, and that instead he likes boys. A later chapter explains that his family had a hard time understanding this about their son.
5.5
out of 7
“Everyone needs the encouragement to forgive themselves of past mistakes. And to learn that life is worth living, with the good and the bad, the pain and the pleasure, the mistakes and the learning from them. That’s what this book is all about. It does have a LGBTQ character that is discussed in one chapter.”
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Top contributors: Mom of Boys · Elaine R.