Cardi delves into issues of love, acceptance, loss and identity in her engaging debut novel. … The author creates nuanced characters and presents them with their flaws and strengths intact, including a character with a mental disorder who never loses her humanity or becomes a caricature. … [A] well-written, first-person narrative about negotiating life’s curve balls that has a realistic ending. An honest, uncompromising story.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
[A] candid and multilayered debut… Alex’s voice is caustic, honest, and studded with humor. Cardi weaves elegant metaphors and incisive dialogue throughout her chapters, concluding with a wrenching sentiment about the necessity of sometimes allowing a lost loved one to find her own way home.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Character development through the rendering of small detail is strong here, particularly with respect to Alex’s younger siblings, Katy and Teddy, who emerge in realistic response to their mother’s withdrawal from their lives. The result is a solidly crafted family story that sensitively explores the ripple effects of the temporary brokenness of one member.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
The novel’s central theme is a clever, deft twist on the idea of leaving home. … A novelist to watch.
—School Library Journal
Cardi presents a powerful look at family life and how it changes everything when you need to watch over your parent.
—VOYA
"The Chance You Won’t Return" is a stunning debut novel featuring a profound exploration of family dynamics and the effects of mental illness. The story palpitates with a raw mix of emotions, including frustration and love, as Alex attempts to navigate a new world where her mother is no longer her mother. Cardi’s realistic treatment of the issues in this novel make for a poignant story that will stay with readers long after the final page is turned.
—TeenReads.com
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