Jiordan's coming-of-age memoir, with her father's imprisonment whirlpooling at the centre of her emotional life, thoroughly captures the resiliency a lot of us are forced to find in an imperfect family when we lack the experience and tools to do so. Poetry is the perfect way in; as she makes her way back into memory, she allows herself the freedom to create literal space for old thoughts and feelings, even incomplete ones. She exhibits an admirable and heartbreaking compassion for herself, her family, and her friends, with her present self occasionally interjecting a guardian angel. What she offers here is a single handbook, one she didn't have when it would have been most useful, and what she's provided is not only cathartic but a gift to those in need.6 s Hannah Bae142

Jiordan Castle has my whole heart! After reading Castle's exquisite poems and essays over the years, I've been eagerly awaiting "Disappearing Act." I was so lucky to get an e-ARC from FSG Young Readers.
This memoir in verse is so deep and thoughtful, following a young Jiordan as she experiences her father's arrest and incarceration. So many readers, both young and old will benefit from this book, but I am particularly hopeful for kids who have experienced parental incarceration to receive this book and feel seen and understood.
One of the most beautiful, profound parts of this book are the deep internality young Jiordan demonstrates. Teenagers are deep, and Castle captures this aspect of youth with such tenderness. I loved this book so very much. Cherlynn | cherreading1,778 983

"the only person I can count on
to be in the deep end with me is me"

A coming-of-age memoir that covers all the complicated, messy and ugly feelings that come with having a loved one in incarceration. It's raw, it's honest and the author doesn't hold back in sharing her deepest thoughts and emotions – even when it doesn't paint her in the best light.

the author said, both the subject and her perspective aren't talked about enough so I appreciate the insight. The verse format was just as unique.

While this was a good and insightful read that I finished in a day, it didn't move me or evoke that much emotion in me. Perhaps the overwhelming teenage angst was hard to connect with, especially when it comes to how poorly the author treated her mother. 8 s1 comment Kathryn42 1 follower

Un anything I’ve read before, Disappearing Act is a quick read that packs a big emotional punch.2 s Kelly PrambergerAuthor 6 books42

I'm so glad I read this book! What a story. Told in a way that I don't normally read but love - verse. Well done. Brave storytelling. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.1 Rachael Lowe25

Audiobook. Coming of age book tackling difficult topics the incarceration of a parent. Quick read but I did not my favorite formatting. The sections with all the “Blank” drove me insane.1 Samantha59

Truly a stunning read from beginning to end. Jiordan's story is an important one and she tells it with such honesty and gutsiness.1 Kaylee122 2

Solid four stars. I always feel strange rating books this, since it is a true story, so I’ll keep this short. I d the book; the writing style was super easy to read. The ending felt very abrupt, but that is probably because it’s a snippet of someone’s life. This book didn’t have as great an impact on me as I had hoped/thought it would, but it was still a good one to read and learn more, I think.
I’m lucky enough that I’m going to get to meet the author later this year for a book signing and ask some questions, so maybe that will change my rating. Hopefully I’ll remember to come update this review after that event!
EDIT: It did not change my rating, but the author is a great person and super nice!1 Jennifer MoffettAuthor 2 books79

Official blurb:

Disappearing Act is gorgeously written with heartbreaking honesty. Castle dispatches scenes from her teen self in a powerful exploration of trauma and hope. Her debut novel-in-verse picks up the pieces from her shattered world and illuminates each fragmented memory with razor-sharp precision. The result is a stunning mosaic of a teen girl who discovers clarity and strength on the other side of a familial catastrophe.

—Jennifer Moffett, author of Those Who Prey Liv399 4

I don’t know how to feel about this one. As usual I won’t spoil it for you, you’ll have to read for yourself.

Basically, this is a commentary on how the United States Incarceration system affects children and families, and the ups and downs that come with having a loved one in prison. However, it’s written in a slightly different style; it’s written in verse. So it’s written in the form of poems, for those of us (hi, I’m us) who don’t understand what the fuck ‘in verse’ means. Now that was hard enough to get used to, without having the vague, elusive wording that only the most egotistical poets can master. Look I just want to know what the guy did, did he die, did they get over it. We don’t find answers to these questions, or at least not that I could see.

Final thoughts;
This felt incomplete to me. It felt I was only getting a glimpse into the full story, whether that be because of the style it was written in, or whether that was the genuine intention from the author. The message was compelling, it’s a great commentary and truly one worth exploring, having been witness to the prison system in the UK. It is a worthwhile commentary to delve into further, but this attempt fell flat ~ immature and unreliable narration (that’s contextually appropriate but frustrating nonetheless), with a real lack of insight into the bigger picture. memoir Nicole14

This book marks my first time reading memoir-in-verse, and what a delight! As a personal fan of the author's essays and poems in The New Yorker and Compound Butter, I hoped to find her accessible language and captivating storytelling in this book -- and boy, did it deliver! The way each piece comes together to tell her family's story is truly beautiful. She manages to capture every emotion (often many emotions at once) and bring you into her lived experience. This book is for teens who have experienced incarceration in their families, adults who are still grappling with that experience, and people me, who haven't been impacted directly but need to know what it's for the millions of families going through it every day. Atticus210 2

Take Jacqueline Woodson's style and story, then let it lift weights with all of the power of justified teenage angst and you'll almost have this book. Accessible writing does not sacrifice meaning in this memoir told in a way that dates nothing. Seeing the author's story of learning who she was, figuring out who her parents were, and reaching out to friends old and new was interesting. However, I would not say that it says anything new or that something else might not say better. The author just touches on learning about her white privilege, and it is unsatisfactory that it is never brought up much more than in passing. Julie27

Worth the wait!

I love Jiordan’s writing, really. When people mention Sylvia Plath, I say, “but have you read Jiordan Castle?”
I have been waiting for this book forever! I expected something else, and it was so refreshing and surprising when I opened it up and saw that this was a nonfiction story told in poetry and prose over a traditional novel. It made the book feel so much more personable, someone was telling me a story rather than me reading a book. I can’t recommend this book enough. Emily Mirengoff46 1 follower

This book is nothing I’ve ever read before. The poetry is absolutely lovely but totally accessible (very important for poetry neophytes me.) The story could have been told in such a melodramatic way, but instead it’s tender and vulnerable and true. I was honored to speak with Jiordan about writing this book, if you want to learn more about her crafting process: https://www.triquarterly.org/intervie... Mary767 16

A skillfully written and honest memoir told in a series of prose poems. Its great strength is its emotional honesty--the small details a bright, observant young teen notices as her father goes to trial, and then to prison, and her life changes irrevocably. I think many teens will relate to Jiordan's struggles and be moved by them. As an adult, some of her behavior makes me cringe (14-year-olds drinking vodka unsupervised, to give one example). But it's sadly realistic.

ya-memoir Michelle3

I stumbled upon Disappearing Act in a local Philadelphia bookstore, felt intrigued by the description, and finished it the same day. While reading I felt as if I was living through the experience with the author. I have not read a nonfiction written so poetically before. The writing style was so unique and beautiful that I feel it deserves 5 stars. Kim5

I throughly enjoyed this book and had finished it in a day. It was captivating and really sad as some I can relate to mainly with how Jiordan handled her father’s imprisonment, as well as dating Chris. I had thought it was very moving and some of her poems made me tear up and bring back a few memories I had growing up as a child. Anne4,764 48

3.5 stars
This memoir in verse tells the story of Jiordan's family the summer her father was taken into custody by the FBI. She talks about how unsettled things were before he was taken away and how they coped afterwards, especially the struggle of dealing with friends who could not relate to her situation. 2023 memoir middle-grade ...more Millie Jensen16

Wow! Genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed this book. Written in verse, it reads beautifully but also is an easy read. Interesting story about a marginalized group of people we rarely consider. Love that it's written from a teen voice. Kylie194 14 Read

Synopsis: Moving and evocative, this YA memoir-in-verse follows author Jiordan Castle's coming-of-age as her family reckons with the aftershocks of her father's mental illness, committing a fraud scheme, and imprisonment.2024-talks memoir nonfiction ...more Izzys_Internet_Bookshelf1,787 69

2.5/5

I found the story to be really interesting. The story of Jiordan and how she navigating this event was interesting. But for me the pacing seemed a little slow. LS Johnson1,478

Powerful. Nonfiction book in verse. Books about incarcerated parents, from a child’s POV are vital.read-nf-2023 Lana150 1 follower

I am not a poetry expert but this story was lovely and really made me feel. This was so beautifully written - deeply personal and heart wrenching and nostalgic Susan Taylor 256 5

YA memoir written in verse
Raw, honest, real.
A gift to readers

Podcasted here
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...2023 authentic-voices memoir ...more Elizabeth Schwan-Rosenwald139 1 followerRead

YA A This was a beautiful lyrical book and I’m grateful I chose to read it in poetry form 2024-books Danee395 1 follower

DNF - 22%
Not really my cup of tea, I think it was the format Christina RossoAuthor 6 books51

I loved this book. Its prose is beautiful yet also super accessible. It tells an incredibly honest yet somehow also hopeful story about a teen girl processing the incarceration of her father. It makes me want to read way more novels in verse and I think it marks the beginning of an incredible writing career for Jiordan Castle. Tyler P32

Must read!! Castle’s honesty and storytelling combined with her creativity in verse make this memoir cut straight to the heart in a cool and vibey way. Brilliant and unique, this is easily one of the best books of 2023. SaraAuthor 5 books194

all the aching hearts and brilliant stars for this remarkable memoir effortlessly in verse. Samantha Paige Rosen3 1 follower

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