All We Have Left

Books | Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship

4.4

(302)

Wendy Mills

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

Buy now:

More Details:

Author

Wendy Mills

Pages

272

Publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published Date

2016-08-09

ISBN

1619633442 9781619633445

Community ReviewsSee all

"An important read, in my opinion. Not only does it teach about the events that took place on 9/11, but the author goes about it in a respectful and well-researched way, taking from actual experiences. Excellent book. The emotions, the wording, and the way it switches back and forth to all come together in the end are all just perfect."

"Do me a favor and read this book "

"HEARTBREAKING & TOUCHING! An important novel that everyone needs to read!"

Bobby Hannafey

"This book is honestly just beautiful, and has so much meaning behind it. 2 different stories coming together into 1 story about the tragedies of 9/11. This really just brings you back in time it feels like. "

Zoe Nichole

"Did I forget to write the review of this book? Huh. I suppose I do that. Anyway, this book was such an important one. It’s a heart wrenching story about 9/11 and how it traumatized an entire group of Americans and the groups following it. It surrounds two teenagers— Jesse and Alia— in two different time periods, fifteen years apart. It comments on how yes, every person who remembered 9/11 was changed throughly, but so was the people who heard these stories. Alia makes an off handed comment in her narration about people jumping from the windows, and man, a part of me saw that. Saw a video that I watched in school during elementary school about how people jumped from the buildings. It stung. I realized learning about that day over and over again hurt. But not only is it about that, but it touches grief in such a beautiful way. How grief can manifest into anger that burns and boils. How it can destroy relationships and even can destroy us. I thought a lot about this book while reading it. I had to fistfight myself to do my homework and read other books because all good things are enjoyed in small doses. Beautiful read, with lots of thoughts."