Ebook
Interweaving stories from past and present, All We Have Left brings one of the most important days in our recent history--September 11th--to life, showing that love and hope will always triumph.
Now:
Sixteen-year-old Jesse is used to living with the echoes of the past. Her older brother died in the September 11th attacks, and her dad since has filled their home with anger and grief. When Jesse gets caught up with the wrong crowd, one momentary hate-fueled decision turns her life upside down. The only way to make amends is to face the past, starting Jesse on a journey that will reveal the truth about how her brother died.
Then:
In 2001, sixteen-year-old Alia is proud to be Muslim . . . it’s being a teenager that she finds difficult. After being grounded for a stupid mistake, Alia decides to confront her father at his Manhattan office, putting her in danger she never could have imagined. When the planes collide into the Twin Towers, Alia is trapped inside one of the buildings. In the final hours, she meets a boy who will change everything for her as the flames rage around them . . .
A Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016 selection
A haunting and heart-wrenching story of two girls, two time periods, and the one event that changed their lives--and the world--forever.
Powerful, emotional read that tackles important issues: Tear-jerkers are proven sellers in YA, and this story brings 9/11 into focus for today’s teens with elements of family, love, and politics that pack a huge punch. Perfect for teen readers who want complex layers with their coming-of-age stories.
Timely topic: Told in multiple POVs, one girl is dealing with the aftermath of 9/11, and the other is living through it, giving teens in a post 9/11 world a thoughtful account of this important event and its aftermath.
Satisfying romance: Jesse’s relationship with Malik will give readers hope and provides a necessary lightness among the heavier content.
Talented author to grow on our list: Wendy writes with a gusto that readers respond to. Her first book, Positively Beautiful, is gaining solid reviews.
For fans of Jodi Piccoult: Wendy’s new novel is reminiscent of Piccoult in the way that she handles issues in a compelling drama, which has proven successful.
[A] beautifully written coming-of-age story. . . . This outstanding, touching look at a national tragedy promotes healing and understanding and belongs in every library.
The author elegantly transitions between the gripping descriptions of Alia and Travis trying to survive and Jesse almost falling into the abyss of generational hatred of Islam. In doing so, she artfully educates readers on both the aspects of Islam used as hateful stereotypes and the ruinous effects of Islamophobia. With almost poetic language, the author compassionately renders both the realistic lives, loves, passions, and struggles of Alia . . . and Jesse . . . as both deal with the fallout of that tragic day. Both a poignant contemplation on 9/11 and a necessary intervention in this current political climate.
Harrowing and realistic, highlighting bravery and courage against impossible odds. Mills movingly examines how easily pain can metastasize into hate, while demonstrating the power of compassion, hope, and forgiveness with equal force.
Thoughtful, poignant . . . An important topic that deserves more dialogue than it receives. A moving portrait and important look at the lasting effects of one of our country’s greatest tragedies.
A timely plea for reconciliation suited to teens whose entire lives have unfolded in the lingering aftermath of 9/11.
Poignantly heartbreaking. . . . While likely to evoke more than a few tears, the story is also hopeful, suggesting that even in the wake of unimaginable tragedy, love can outweigh hate, friendship can counter fear, and compassion and understanding can begin the healing process.
Mills’s narrative mission-to portray the experiences of characters from very different backgrounds while bringing the horrific tragedy and its aftermath to life for contemporary teens-is fully accomplished. . . . [a] timely, ultimately hopeful story of love, courage, and human goodness when it matters most
Teens will appreciate this carefully researched and authentic exposé of a difficult subject. . . . A heartfelt, three-hankie exploration of a topic all too many teens must confront.
Highly appealing to teens who would be interested in a more modern take on a well-trod genre.
The emotional core of the novel is convincingly powerful . . . teens will likely appreciate the well-researched depiction of losing a loved one to cancer.
Wendy Mills is the author of Positively Beautiful and All We Have Left. She was born on the edge of the water and has never left it. She now lives with her family on a tropical island off the southwest coast of Florida, where she spends her time writing and dodging hurricanes.
www.wendymillsbooks.com
@WendyMillsBooks