Where Things Come Back
by John Corey Whaley
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley holds a well received rating of 3.81 out of 5, based on 14.9K reader ratings. First published in 2011. The book spans 228 pages.
About Where Things Come Back
Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . . In the summer before Cullen's senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone's eating "Lazarus burgers." But as absurd as the town's carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared. While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax. Complex but truly extraordinary, tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, this novel finds wonder in the ordinary and emerges as ultimately hopeful. It's about a lot more than what Cullen calls, “that damn bird.” It’s about the dream of second chances.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | John Corey Whaley |
| Published | 2011 |
| Pages | 228 |
| Genres | Young Adult, Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Religion & Spirituality |
| Average Rating | 3.81 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 14,852 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Where Things Come Back?
Where Things Come Back is categorized as Young Adult, Fiction, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller. Its primary genre classification is Mystery & Thriller.
Is Where Things Come Back worth reading?
Based on 14.9K reader ratings, Where Things Come Back has an average score of 3.81 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is Where Things Come Back?
Where Things Come Back has 228 pages.
Who wrote Where Things Come Back?
Where Things Come Back was written by John Corey Whaley. It was first published in 2011.
What is the ISBN for Where Things Come Back?
The ISBN-13 for Where Things Come Back is 9781442413340.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
