And Then There Was Us - by Kern Carter (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Coi is just eighteen years old but has already survived years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother. After being kicked out of her mother's house at age fourteen, Coi has lived with her father, and together they've created a peaceful life. That peace ends suddenly when her mother dies. Her mother's passing also reopens up the door to her mother's side of the family, including her beloved younger half-sister, Kayla, her stepfather and her grandmother. As she reconnects with her family, Coi learns to see parts of her mother she never experienced and for the first time since she was abandoned, opens her heart to forgiveness"--

Book Synopsis

A mother's death forces a teen girl to reevaluate their tumultuous relationship in this powerful coming-of-age novel for teens. For fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

After years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother, fourteen-year-old Coi moved in with her father, and together they created a peaceful life. But now, four years later, that peace is shattered when her mother dies.

While Coi struggles to find kindness in her heart for the woman who did nothing but hurt her, her mother's passing does help reopen the door to her mother's side of the family. It's only through reconnecting with her estranged family members, especially her younger half-sister Kayla, that Coi's long-held views about her mother are challenged.

And when Coi begins to see visions of her mother in her dreams, she is forced to ask herself what it means to forgive and be forgiven, and, most importantly, what it means to be family.

Review Quotes

One of CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens for 2024
An Indigo Best Book of 2024 So Far

"An emotional story of family and growth." --Kirkus Reviews

"[W]ell paced and populated with strong and sympathetic characters." --Booklist

"A well-written, thoughtful, and sympathetic deep dive into understanding and surviving an abusive parent." --School Library Journal

"This is [a] tale of family dynamics and difficult choices." --Winnipeg Free Press

"And Then There Was Us is an important read for anyone looking for a book that explores reevaluating childhood trauma and complicated family relationships." --Young Adulting

About the Author

Kern Carter is a novelist who is celebrated for his captivating storytelling. With books such as And Then There Was Us and Boys and Girls Screaming, his stories explore themes of family, friendship, and the drama that can fracture those relationships. Kern has built a devoted readership not just for his novels, but for his writing on the intersection between literature and popular culture, both historically and through a contemporary lens. Kern also teaches professional writing at the college level, hosts workshops on craft and storytelling, and is in-demand as a public speaker for his expertise on creative culture. He is based in Toronto.