The Leaving Year

Gr 9 Up—This debut novel is a masterly coming-of-age story set in 1967 Washington state. Ida Petrowich, a 15-year-old white teen, awaits the return of her beloved father from an Alaskan fishing expedition. When the worst happens and her father is considered lost at sea, Ida's world is shaken. With her father's loss, secrets and rumors about his life rise to the surface. As Ida attempts to unearth the truth, she finds herself barred by her grieving mother, who wants to protect Ida's idolized view of her father. The teens find solace in her friendships with her cousin Dena and her emerging romance with Sam, a Filipino student. As the one-year anniversary of her father's disappearance approaches and her friends depart for work in Alaska, the young woman finds life unbearable. She runs to Alaska looking for answers and finds friendship, love, and growth. McGaffin's story, like the still waters Ida thinks about, runs deep. More than a coming-of-age family drama, by setting the story in 1967, McGaffin has Ida experience the turmoil of the civil rights movement and racism while interweaving Indigenous legends into Ida's journey. The plot, combined with excellent character development, does not get bogged down in its depth, but delightfully unfolds to a satisfying and optimistic conclusion. Perfect for fans of Liz Moore's The Unseen World or Tayari Jones's Silver Sparrow.