I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS by Audrey Vernick Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Title: AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS
Author: Audrey Vernick
Pub. Date: July 7, 2020
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 224
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
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.
“The subjects are heavy, but Army’s young voice infuses them with humor and warmth, even when her path forward seems uncertain. ‘Just go with it and make things happen before you totally understand how to do all of it,’ Army suggests, a hard-won lesson that young readers will take to heart.” —Booklist
“this is fundamentally the story of small moments of growth and insight. Army’s first-person narration feels particularly authentic as she navigates her intense feelings”—The Horn Book
“In short chapters told from Army’s earnest first-person perspective, she finds new ways to negotiate with her caring but emotionally reserved parents and steps out of her own comfort zone; this exploration of family dynamics is where the novel shines.”—Kirkus Reviews
“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.” —Publishers Weekly
INTERVIEW
- What is on your nightstand?
Books, an astonishing number of lip balms, and a too-bright light.
- What author would you totally fan?
Maybe Jeanne Birdsall—I’m rereading The Penderwicks series and it’s making me giddy.
- What makes you cringe?
I have a tendency to email blurt—to hold a question inside too long and then, at the most inappropriate time, write, send, and regret. It’s something I thought I’d have outgrown by now.
- Do you obsessively plot out each point or just go with the flow?
I do not obsessively plot—I am not even sure I plot. If my characters had their way, they would sit in a room, eat baked goods, and talk for the entire length of every book.
- Is there a word you love to use?
Yes, but it changes daily. Today’s word is purposeful.
Audrey grew up in Whitestone, New York, where she lived with her parents and two sisters and a not very bright small white dog. She has a freaky memory about the names of the kids in her class at P.S. 184Q, and even remembers where most of them stood in size order.
She always loved to read and still rereads Harriet the Spy on a regular basis. She was not one of those children who always knew she wanted to be a writer; she didn’t love to write until college. She’s been writing ever since.
In addition to writing for children, Audrey has published more than a dozen short stories for adults in magazines and literary journals. She received an mfa from Sarah Lawrence College.
Audrey divides her time between writing (which is mostly spent revising) and visiting elementary schools to talk about writing and publishing. (For school visit info, click here.) She also speaks at conferences around the country.
She lives near the ocean in New Jersey with her family. and one fairly intelligent medium-sized black dog.
Audrey Vernick received a 2019 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads
Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
8/3/2020 | Her Book Thoughts | Review |
8/3/2020 | Her Book Thoughts | Instagram Stop |
8/4/2020 | BookHounds YA | Interview |
8/4/2020 | Oodles of Books | Review |
8/4/2020 | Jaime’s World | Excerpt |
8/5/2020 | Lifestyle of Me | Review |
8/5/2020 | kelly_lyn_90 | Instagram Stop |
8/5/2020 | For the Love of KidLit | Excerpt |
8/6/2020 | onemused | Review/Instagram Stop |
8/6/2020 | reading_with_nessie | Review |
8/6/2020 | Two Chicks on Books | Interview |
8/7/2020 | notinjersey | Excerpt |
8/7/2020 | notinjersey | Instagram Stop |
8/7/2020 | TheReadingCornerforAll | Review |
8/7/2020 | TheReadingCornerforAll | Instagram Stop |
8/7/2020 | JaimeRockstarBookTours | Instagram Stop |
Week Two:
8/10/2020 | Kait Plus Books | Review |
8/10/2020 | Kait Plus Books | Instagram Stop |
8/11/2020 | A Dream Within A Dream | Excerpt |
8/11/2020 | YA Books Central | Excerpt |
8/11/2020 | YA Books Central | Instagram Stop |
8/12/2020 | Life Writings of a Reader | Excerpt |
8/12/2020 | Life Writings of a Reader | Instagram Stop |
8/13/2020 | two points of interest | Review |
8/13/2020 | Here’s to Happy Endings | Review |
8/14/2020 | fictitious.fox | Review/Instagram Stop |
8/14/2020 | Hurn Publications | Review |
8/14/2020 | Hurn Publications | Instagram Stop |
Book looks great, look forward to reading it!
I love the cover! This book is going to make me cry and I can’t wait to read it and keep tissues at hand.
New author for me!
This sounds like a compelling read. It will probably make me cry.
I can’t wait until our granddaughter is old enough to read this book. Events are so often overwhelming making it difficult for both children and adults to cope with things. This sounds like a perfect example of how we can approach a bad event and work to cope with it. The best way to heal really is to channel the grief and bad energy into positive action. I wish I were still a children’s librarian. This is a book to put on the shelf.