In this life-affirming novel of trauma and recovery, a girl searches for a path forward after being forced to confront the reality of gun violence, for fans of Dusti Bowling and Jasmine Warga.
Stevie Jane Cohen-Kaplan’s sheltered suburban life is shattered by a mass shooting at a festival in her town. In the aftermath, her brain feels broken. She can’t bear to visit her mom, recovering in the hospital under Stevie’s dad’s watchful eye, or to be pent up in her grandparents’ nearby Manhattan apartment.
To escape the apartment and her own thoughts, Stevie starts adventuring around New York City with her best friend, Avi, and a new therapy dog (in training). The trio starts chasing stories—about a neighbor’s life after the Holocaust, Stevie’s grandfathers who died of AIDS long before she was born, and even about her own mom’s activist upbringing. These stories may not bring Stevie all the way back to “normal,” but can they help her find a new version of herself?
Written with compassion and care, Every Story Ever Told places readers at the center of their own story and within a larger human tapestry, as one girl tries to make sense of the unthinkable.
Topics PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Mass shootings. Communities. Friendship. Holocaust survivors. Psychiatric service dogs. Survivor's guilt. Mental health. Activism and social justice. Poetry.
Trim Size 7 3/4" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Spring
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2024-10-28
JLG Release Date Apr 2025
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Realistic Fiction Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
Realistic Fiction Middle Plus
Realistic Fiction Middle Plus (Grades 5-8)
For Grades 5-8
This 14-book collection features compelling stories with relatable characters, capturing both contemporary and historical experiences. Whether set in the present or past, these books offer an insightful look at real-world challenges and triumphs. Some selections may include thought-provoking themes exploring identity, relationships, and social issues, including LGBTQIA+IA+ topics, moderate language, and other sensitive subjects.