All We Have Left
Description
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
Praise for All We Have Left
"[A] beautifully written coming-of-age story. . . . This outstanding, touching look at a national tragedy promotes healing and understanding and belongs in every library." - starred review, School Library Journal
"Both a poignant contemplation on 9/11 and a necessary intervention in this current political climate." - starred review, Kirkus Reviews
"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." - Publishers Weekly
"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." - Booklist
"A timely plea for reconciliation suited to teens whose entire lives have unfolded in the lingering aftermath of 9/11." - BCCB
"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." - VOYA
"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." - The Horn Book Magazine
"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." - Kirkus Reviews on POSITIVELY BEAUTIFUL
"Highly appealing to teens who would be interested in a more modern take on a well-trod genre." - SLJ on POSITIVELY BEAUTIFUL
"The emotional core of the novel is convincingly powerful . . . teens will likely appreciate the well-researched depiction of losing a loved one to cancer." - Booklist on POSITIVELY BEAUTIFUL
