Every Story Ever Told

Gr 5 Up–In the wake of tragedy, a middle schooler wonders how she will ever be herself again. Just after Stevie, 13, and her parents arrive at an event in their New Jersey town, a gunman opens fire, killing five and injuring many others, including Stevie’s mother. While her mother remains in a medically induced coma in Manhattan with Stevie’s father at her side, Stevie is cared for by her grandparents; her best friend, Avi, a transgender boy; Raisin, a new rescue dog providing emotional support; and Evelyn, her neighbor from home who is a Holocaust survivor. Stevie grapples with physical and psychological reactions to the stress and trauma, including horrible, misplaced guilt. While she struggles to articulate what she feels and needs through the fog of panic, anxiety, and PTSD, Stevie is surrounded by tenderness and support. Though life feels fragile and survival is complicated, Stevie finds strength in the connections to others who have endured violence, loss, and persecution. The young girl’s fear and guilt are almost unbearable to read, but Polonsky’s deft prose and vibrant cast of characters help Stevie, and readers, understand her feelings and work toward healing. Deeply moving, this companion to World Made of Glass, which tells the story of Stevie’s mother as a youth, can be read as a standalone. Includes an author’s note about trauma and gun violence.