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Before We Disappear

Shaun David Hutchinson

Ages 14–18

Readers rate it 3.6 (27 on Hardcover)

435 pages · Released Sep 28, 2021

Content report card

Before We Disappear parent’s guide: what’s inside

High confidence

What it offers

Educational value

A note for parents

This YA historical fantasy explores a romantic relationship between two boys amid themes of loyalty, identity, and belonging set during the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. While the LGBTQ+ romance is central and affirming, the book addresses serious trauma including child abuse, abandonment, and bullying that shaped the protagonists' pasts. The magical elements and period setting provide adventure and wonder, but mature themes require a teen reader capable of processing emotional complexity.

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From the publisher

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection! It’s a new star-crossed romance about the magic of first love from the acclaimed author of We Are the Ants and Brave Face, Shaun David Hutchinson. Jack Nevin’s clever trickery and moral flexibility make him the perfect assistant to the Enchantress, one of the most well-kn... A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection! It’s a new star-crossed romance about the magic of first love from the acclaimed author of We Are the Ants and Brave Face, Shaun David Hutchinson. Jack Nevin’s clever trickery and moral flexibility make him the perfect assistant to the Enchantress, one of the most well-known stage magicians in turn-of-the-nineteenth-century Europe. Without Jack’s steady supply of stolen tricks, the Enchantress’s fame would have burned out long ago. But when Jack’s thievery catches up to them, they’re forced to flee to America to find their fortune. Luckily, the Enchantress is able to arrange a set of sold-out shows at Seattle’s Alaska–Yukon–Pacific World’s Fair Exposition. She’s convinced they’re going to rich and famous until a new magician arrives on the scene. Performing tricks that defy the imagination, Laszlo’s show overshadows the Enchantress, leaving Jack no choice but to hunt for the secrets to his otherworldly illusions. But what Jack uncovers isn’t at all what he expected. Behind Laszlo’s tricks is Wilhelm—a boy that can seemingly perform real magic. Jack and Wilhelm have an instant connection, and as the rivalry between the Enchantress and Laszlo grows, so too does Jack and Wilhelm’s affection. But can Jack choose between the woman who gave him a life and the boy who is offering him everything? It’s a stirring tale about the magic of love from award-winning author Shaun David Hutchinson.

Shelved under

  • Young Adult Fiction
  • A mix driven
  • Loveable Characters
  • Diverse Characters
  • Strong Character Development
  • mysterious
  • hopeful
  • Adventurous
  • emotional
  • reflective
  • Fantasy
  • Young Adult

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ISBN 9780063025257 · HarperCollins

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