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!
About the Book:
Title: AFTER THE WORST THING
HAPPENS
Author: Audrey Vernick
Pub. Date: July 7, 2020
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 224
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.
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
"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:
For the readers:
can you tell us a little bit about the AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS and the
characters?
It's about twelve-year-old Army Morand who, after a terrible accident,
which was largely her fault, can't seem to stop hiding from everything and
everybody. That sounds like the saddest book in the world, but it’s really not.
Army doesn’t really know it, but things start to shift for her when she sees
the little girl who moved in across the way, Madison, climbing a tree one day
and walking down the street unsupervised another. The new neighbors are not
neglectful, just overwhelmed. Army feels this surge of need—need-to-help
Madison’s family, to make sure another worst thing doesn’t
happen.
Her go-to lifetime best friend, JennaLouise (no space), doesn’t seem to
get it—in fact, she seems
pretty judgmental when Army talks about what’s going on across
the street. Oddly, it’s a girl who’s never been a friend before, Elsie Jenkins, who basically inserts
herself into Army’s life. In the end, it’s about finding love and hope and
friendship in surprising places.
What are you
working on now?
I’m working on a number of picture books.
Were any of the
characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
Some of the incidents in the book really
happened but the characters are all made up.
Who was your
favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
I loved writing the scenes with the dog,
Maybe. He was a very happy boy. Least favorite was probably when things were
tense between Army and her mom—the mom wasn’t the kind I had or the kind I was. She was more reserved and it wasn’t all that fun
to write.
What is your
favorite passages/scenes in AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS?
There’s a scene involving a litter of puppies
that was so much fun to write. It was such a relief that Army was in a joyous
place after a hard time.
What kind of
research did you have to do for the story?
I did a lot of research on autism and the
nuances of language people use when talking about autism. I also did some
thoroughly enjoyable research about service dogs.
What inspired you
to write middle grade lit?
It is tied directly to how much I loved the
middle-grade books that I read and reread as a child.
Lightning Round
Questions
What are you
reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
I am rereading—and thoroughly enjoying—the Penderwicks books. (I’m looking to
escape the time we’re living in.)
Instagram, Twitter
or Facebook?
Facebook
Favorite
Superhero?
Barack Obama
Favorite TV show?
Better Things
Sweet or Salty?
Sweet
Any Phobias?
Yes, but I’m too phobic to say.
Song you can’t get
enough of right now?
It is actually a song that can’t get enough
of me. I have had a dreadful earworm for weeks now of a Paul Westerberg song,
“Things.” I need it to stop.
2020 Movie you’re
most looking forward to?
Bill and Ted 3!
Thanks so much Audrey for answering my questions! I can’t wait for
everyone to read AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS!
About Audrey:
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.
Giveaway
Details:
3
winners will receive a finished copy of AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
8/3/2020
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8/3/2020
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8/4/2020
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8/4/2020
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8/4/2020
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8/5/2020
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8/5/2020
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8/6/2020
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8/6/2020
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8/6/2020
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8/7/2020
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8/7/2020
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Week Two:
8/10/2020
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8/10/2020
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8/11/2020
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8/11/2020
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8/12/2020
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8/13/2020
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8/13/2020
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8/14/2020
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8/14/2020
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great work!
ReplyDeleteEssay assignment help Middlesex
Love it!
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