TIDELINES

A young woman reflects on the years leading up to her beloved brother’s disappearance in Sasson’s novel.

In 2012, “Grub” Donohue sits outside the home of the man who she believes is responsible for the loss of her brother. The story hops back to the start of the millennium, when she’s a 14-year-old living with her family in Sydney, Australia. Her warmhearted parents love both of their children, though everyone, it seems, has a particular fondness for Grub’s older brother, Elijah. He’s a skilled swimmer, an inspired artist, and, like his mother, an exceptional cellist. He also dotes on his little sister, whom he’s often playful with and always protective of. Grub doesn’t like it when Elijah starts spending so much time with the same-aged Zed, even if she’s mysteriously drawn to this boy. It’s not just that he’s taking away moments with her brother; Zed may be a bad influence, too (the friends, for example, sneak out on a weeknight). Years later, in 2010, Grub works toward her dream of becoming a physician—she’s a student and part of a group researching diseases affecting memory, mood, and movement. Elijah, who’s still glued to Zed, is the quintessential starving artist with a perpetually empty wallet. Zed ropes Elijah into taking a job that’s more than it appears, and Grub’s once-affectionate brother takes a turn for the worse. Then he suddenly vanishes, leaving his family with more questions than answers. Is it all because of Zed? Or is there something else Grub has yet to learn—or simply doesn’t want to face?

Sasson methodically unspools Grub’s and Elijah’s stories. Grub, who narrates, is the true focus, and she easily wins the reader’s sympathy—this girl, who rarely complains, practically lives in her brother’s shadow; her longtime best friend crushes on him, and her mother gives the impression that she’s disappointed Grub isn’t as creative as Elijah. The Donohues are an intriguing bunch. The siblings’ dad was born in Northern Ireland, and their mom comes from a family of Sephardic Jews who emigrated from Egypt. This creates a visual distinction between the siblings, as Elijah sports a tan year-round and Grub’s skin is “so pale it glow[s].” As the story progresses, Grub experiences adolescence in convincing ways: She endures school bullies, has more than one romantic interest throughout the years, and deals with body image issues (her teen peers develop much faster than she does). Although readers will likely deduce which way Elijah’s story is headed, there’s a shock or two before the end. Before then, the protagonist mixes with dynamic characters, from Zed (who always has a scheme he’s cooking up) to a teacher who leaves a lasting impression. Grub’s narration often approaches the poetic: “I carried around this secret of wanting to be a physician like carrying something stolen in my pocket. I tried to hide it but at the same time I couldn’t resist reaching in and pulling it out to toy with.”

This measured, thoroughly engaging coming-of-age tale hits all the right emotional notes.