Yesterday's Gone by Kelly Pawlik



Darius and his family have recently moved from Boston to a small Pacific Northwest town and he’s itching for a mystery to solve — just like his Hardy Boys heroes. When he overhears some other kids talking about an abandoned house, he think he might have found his answer, but Darius and his new friends might have bitten off more than they can chew. Their investigation takes some dark turns and reveals much more than just a spooky house. 


The premise drew me in: Kids exploring a haunted house and stumbling upon their very own mystery. Unfortunately, the execution left a lot to be desired. While technically sound, with great use of sensory language, the plot was Swiss cheese and the characters were sorely underdeveloped. Once I sifted my way through all of the “D” names, I wanted a lot more depth, a lot less telling, and a lot more showing. 


Great writing uses the setting (both place and time) as almost another character. As a teacher, I often ask, “If this were set somewhere/sometime else, what would change?” In this case, nothing. In fact, it took me about a third of the book to realize that it was supposed to be set in the ‘80s. Small references to “commies” and Strawberry Shortcake were really the only clues. If you’re going to make the choice to adopt a specific time period like this, it needs to be both purposeful and evident. This seemed neither. 


Somehow this book managed to be both too childish and too mature for the middle grades audience. The dialogue was flimsy and inauthentic. Tetsu’s propensity for profanity, a sex talk, and the scene the kids discover in the basement would ignite the parents of my young middle schoolers. 


I know this is the first book of a series, so I’m hopeful that the upcoming editions will provide more character depth, a smoother plot, and growth for the author. There is certainly promise here. 


Huge thank you to BookSirens for this advanced copy! 


Yesterday's Gone: ★★

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