After the Worst Thing Happens

Hello everyone! Today we're going to talk all about After the Worst Thing Happens by Audrey Vernick. This middle grade work held a compelling narrative that endears you to Army Morand and her process of overcoming the loss of losing her four-legged best friend, Maybe, and learning how to see the world past violet lenses of grief. Although Army is dealing with her own personal circumstances, it was moving to see how she turns channels her emotions by exhibiting community spirit to help her neighbors get a dog for their young daughter, Madison, to help with her nonverbal autism. Overall, After the Worst Thing Happens is a very emotional read where Vernick channels a great amount of heart and life through her characters in a way that readers can certainly find themselves. By the end of the book, like Army, readers might just find that sometimes after the worst things in life happen, by holding onto hope and love, we can share a bright light with those around us and make a positive difference to our community.

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

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

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.

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