I’m starting to notice a trend with Zondervan’s YA novels. They require a lot of thinking. Back Before Dark proved a thrilling story and an excellent book for the targeted age range. But like so many books, I keep thinking back to my time working at a local library and how many grade schoolers would check out YA novels, and I’m concern about how problematic a book like this could be for a younger than intended reader.
Let me start with why I think this book is amazing for the right audience. Back Before Dark spent a lot of time switching between different points of view, and Mr. Shoemaker does an excellent job making each one unique. Most of the narrative is split between four teenagers, and it’s fascinating how much of both their characters and their characters’ back story can be inferred from how they think. One kid comes from a family heavily involved in law enforcement and the details and ideas she offers are completely different from those of a boy who clearly understands the rougher side of daily life. But the best part was when the focus shifted between the teenagers and the adults. The way the four main characters thought was perfect for their age. You can completely sympathize with their frustration as the adults tried to keep them away from the investigation…but you can also sympathize with the officers and parents trying desperately to save one kid while keeping his three friends out of danger and out from under foot.
The mystery itself was very well paced. Enough inside information was fed to the reader to both add to the suspense, but enough was withheld from all the parties involved that there was still an element of true mystery. However, the mystery itself is the beginning of where things get murky as far as an actual recommendation for this book goes. The story revolves around the abduction of one of the four friends and the subsequent attempts to find and rescue him. Kudos go Mr. Shoemaker for two things with the scenario. He deliberately scaled back on how horrific the scenario is by making the kidnapping be an attempt by the perpetrator’s plan be to “show up” the police by committing the perfect crime, then letting the boy go to rub it in. This makes it a substantially more age appropriate book. However, the author knows the realities of the subject he’s dealing with, and he does use the police procedures to take a really hard look at what these scenarios are usually like. In many ways, this is a book written to inform young adult readers as much as to entertain, so while he spares his character the ugliness of most kidnappings, he doesn’t flinch at spelling out how these stories frequently end.
Which leads me into what for me really makes it imperative that this book stays firmly in the teen section. This is a huge spoiler, so skip the next paragraph if you’re hoping to pick up a copy. However, for the sake of parents deciding whether or not it’s appropriate for their kids, I think it needs to be stated up front.
The main character of the four friends, Cooper, decides that in order to save his friend, he must get kidnapped too. Not only does he feel this is necessary, he feels that it is imperative that he as a Christian do this. The entire event is couched in terms of loyalty, bravery, and sacrificial love, and it’s very easy to get caught up in Cooper’s emotions and root for him. There’s never really a moment where it’s hammered home just how stupid his plan really is and that it’s the worst idea ever. I can think of very little that would make a nightmare like a kidnapping worse than having other kids deliberately going and getting kidnapped to save their friend.
Honestly, I know a lot of younger kids (hey, I was one of them) who take what they read very seriously and don’t have a lot of discernment when it comes to stories they love. So that’s why I’m so torn when it comes to this book. I know a lot of adult and teenage friends who would love it and who I plan on recommending it to, but I really think this is a book we have to be careful with and make certain younger kids don’t read until they are ready.
My thanks to Zondervan for providing me with a copy of Back Before Dark in return for my honest opinion of the book.