Not Nothing
Not Nothing by Gayle Forman is a poignant narrative that explores themes of friendship and personal growth. Published by Simon and Schuster on August 26, 2025, this reprint edition spans 304 pages and is presented in English. The story follows twelve-year-old Alex, who, after a serious mistake, is sentenced to volunteer at a retirement home. Initially resistant, he encounters the elderly resident Josey, a 107-year-old survivor of unimaginable hardships, and begins to learn valuable lessons about life, loss, and redemption.
Readers will find a rich exploration of intergenerational friendship as Alex and Josey forge a bond through shared experiences and storytelling. The narrative delves into the complexities of family life and the challenges of growing up, while also addressing social skills and the importance of understanding others. Through their interactions, Alex confronts his past and discovers the potential for change, making this a thoughtful addition to the genres of children’s literature and religious fiction.
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Four starred reviews!
“The book we all need at the time we all need it.” —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award–winning author of The One and Only Ivan
In this “tale of intergenerational friendship forged through a shared understanding of loss…told with spellbinding grace” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman, a boy assigned to spend his summer volunteering at a senior living facility learns unexpected lessons.
Alex is twelve, and he did something very, very bad. A judge sentences him to spend his summer volunteering at a retirement home where he’s bossed around by an annoying and self-important do-gooder named Maya-Jade. He hasn’t seen his mom in a year, his aunt and uncle don’t want him, and Shady Glen’s geriatric residents seem like zombies to him.
Josey is 107 and ready for his life to be over. He has evaded death many times, having survived ghettos, dragnets, and a concentration camp—all thanks to the heroism of a woman named Olka and his own ability to sew. But now he spends his days in room 206 at Shady Glen, refusing to speak and waiting (and waiting and waiting) to die. Until Alex knocks on Josey’s door…and Josey begins to tell Alex his story.
As Alex comes back again and again to hear more, an unlikely bond grows between them. Soon a new possibility opens up for Alex: Can he rise to the occasion of his life, even if it means confronting the worst thing that he’s ever done?
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