A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
An Amazon Best Book of the Year
A Nerdy Book Club YA Fiction Award Winner
A YALSA-ALA Teens’ Top Ten Nominee
A Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
A Bank Street Children’s Books Best Book of the Year
A Florida Book Award Winner
A California Young Reader Award Winner
A haunting and heart-wrenching story of two girls, two time periods, and the one event that changed their lives—and the world—forever.
Nominated for the 2020-2021 California Young Reader Award
Nominated for the 2019 Lincoln Award from the Illinois School Library Media Association
Nominated for the 2019 Nutmeg Award in Connecticut
Nominated for 2018-2019 South Carolina Book Award
Nominated for 2017-2018 Florida Teen Reads Award
Nominated for 2018-2019 Indiana High School Book Award (The Rosie)
International Literacy 2017 YA Choice Reading List
Nominated for 2019 Grand Canyon Reader Award from Arizona Library Association
Nominated for 2017-2018 Arkansas Teen Book Award
Nominated for the 2019 Lincoln Award from the Illinois School Library Media Association
Nominated for the 2019 Nutmeg Award in Connecticut
Nominated for 2018-2019 South Carolina Book Award
Nominated for 2017-2018 Florida Teen Reads Award
Nominated for 2018-2019 Indiana High School Book Award (The Rosie)
International Literacy 2017 YA Choice Reading List
Nominated for 2019 Grand Canyon Reader Award from Arizona Library Association
Nominated for 2017-2018 Arkansas Teen Book Award
ALL WE HAVE LEFT
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 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 is determined to show her parents that that they must respect her choices. She'll start by confronting her father at his office in downtown Manhattan, putting Alia 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 . . .
Interweaving stories past and present, full of heartbreak and hope, two girls come of age in an instant, learning that both hate and love have the power to reverberate into the future and beyond.
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 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 is determined to show her parents that that they must respect her choices. She'll start by confronting her father at his office in downtown Manhattan, putting Alia 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 . . .
Interweaving stories past and present, full of heartbreak and hope, two girls come of age in an instant, learning that both hate and love have the power to reverberate into the future and beyond.
Praise for All We Have Left
★ “Compassionately renders both the realistic lives, loves,
passions, and struggles of Alia and Jesse as both deal with
the fallout of that tragic day. . . . A poignant contemplation.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Beautifully written. . . . This outstanding, touching look at
a national tragedy promotes healing and understanding.”
—SLJ, starred review
“A moving portrait and important look at the lasting
effects of one of our country’s greatest tragedies.”
--Booklist
“Surprising and heartbreaking…highlighting bravery and courage
against impossible odds. Mills movingly examines how easily pain
can metastasize into hate, while demonstrating the power of
compassion, hope, and forgiveness with equal force."
–Publishers Weekly
“Poignantly heartbreaking. . . . While likely to evoke more than a few tears, the story is also hopeful, suggesting that even in the wake of unimaginable tragedy, love can outweigh hate, friendship can counter fear, and compassion and understanding can begin the healing process.”
– Voya
“Wendy Mills’ latest novel is a haunting story of hope and heartbreak and hatred….Leading up to the 15th anniversary of the horrific events of 9/11, Mills’ compelling novel offers a stark look at disturbingly prevalent issues of religious and ethnic stereotyping and xenophobia. …Mills highlights the power of the human spirit that prevails even in the face of incomprehensible evil.”
–Bookpage
“It’s rare that a book manages to be deeply thoughtful and still offer up a compelling read, but ‘All We Have Left’ seems to do so effortlessly.”
–Christian Science Monitor
“…a timely plea for reconciliation suited to teens whose entire lives have unfolded in the lingering aftermath of 9/11.”
– Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
This timely, ultimately hopeful story of love, courage, and human goodness when it matters most is a much-needed antidote to our era’s Islamophobia, fear, and the tense political and social conditions that young people are surely internalizing.
–The Horn Book Magazine
Named as one of Kirkus Review’s “11 Teen Titles You Don’t Want to Miss this Summer”
One of Bookish.com’s “The Best Contemporary Young Adult Books of Summer 2016.”
Named an Amazon “Best Book of the Month.”
One of Bustle's "19 Young Adult Books Out in August to Help You Close Out Your Summer"
On Brit & Co.'s list of "14 Must-Read Young Adult Books Out in August."