Book Review: The Returners 

By Gemma Malley  

4 Stars 

Will Hodge is being stalked by freaks: sullen, forlorn expressions, eyes hiding a peculiar sadness, and a limp, stumbling walk. They started following him right after his mother flung herself into the river, staring at him from a distance as if they could sense his misery.  

Since then, his only friends have abandoned him, wordlessly excluding him from their friendship. The dreams started, too; blurry, horrible visions of torture and evil. And at the very peak of it all, his father’s racism has started to reach a radical level. When Will witnesses his Chinese neighbour trying to help the dying Mr. Best, he needs to choose between his last connection to this Earth and what’s right to do.  

The Returners by Gemma Malley is a thrilling, emotional story.  

It conveys the fright of having an abusive father, but also the idea of the seed of an inner monster within the hero himself. Will represents both sides of humans - the gritty, evil side that none of us like to admit exists, and the justice-loving hero who always does what’s right.  

The antagonist isn’t some mustache-twirling punching-bag for the hero - he is the main character himself. This made it very relatable and realistic. It was an immersive, thought-provoking novel, and this is one story that I will definitely recommend. 

Reviewed by Ayesha 

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