After the Worst Thing Happens
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
Left reeling after her thoughtless mistake causes a terrible accident, 12-year-old Army Morand channels her grief to help someone in need.
Army Morand feels like her life has been blown to bits when the worst thing imaginable happens--her beloved dog dies. It was an accident, but it was also Army's fault. She can't seem to stop hiding from everything and everybody including her best friend JennaLouise.
But then Army sees Madison, the little girl who moved in across the way, climbing a tree and walking down the street unsupervised. Her family is not neglectful, just overwhelmed. Army finds herself overcome with the need to help Madison's family to make sure another worst thing doesn't happen--which becomes even more challenging when a big storm threatens her town.
After the Worst Thing Happens is a bittersweet story about a girl surprised by the force of a growing need inside her to reach out and lend a hand while trying to escape the swirling sadness of her own sudden loss. In the end, it is about finding love and hope and friendship in very surprising places.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Army Morand adores her dog, Maybe, so when Maybe dies after eating the chocolate cupcakes Army left out, the 12-year-old is wracked with guilt and sorrow. It doesn't help that her unemotional mother, who works with her father to repair homes and businesses after natural disasters, wants Army to move on too quickly. As the girl tries to grieve, she also attempts to avoid Elsie, an unpopular classmate interested in Army, and helps out next door, bonding with a new family overwhelmed mom Irene, baby twins, and a daughter, Madison, with nonverbal autism. But Irene's struggles may require more than just Army's assistance, and it takes a hurricane hitting their New Jersey town for Army to realize that she can both effectively help others and learn to forgive herself. With moments of humor, Vernick (Two Naomis) weaves together a well-paced story that explores grief in all its raw pain, as well as the power of friends, family, and community to help heal. Ages 9 12.
