Not Nothing
Not Nothing by Gayle Forman, published by Simon and Schuster on August 27, 2024, is a poignant narrative that explores themes of family, friendship, and the complexities of emotions. In this story, twelve-year-old Alex is sentenced to volunteer at a senior living facility after making a serious mistake. Initially resistant to his surroundings and the residents, he encounters Josey, a 107-year-old man with a rich history of survival. Through their interactions, Alex begins to learn valuable lessons about loss and connection.
Readers will find a tale that delves into intergenerational friendship and the impact of shared experiences. As Alex returns to hear more of Josey’s story, the bond between them deepens, prompting Alex to confront his past actions. This edition, comprising 288 pages, offers insights into social themes and values, inviting readers to reflect on the importance of understanding and empathy in the face of adversity.
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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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