Overview

The true story of a devastating flood that destroys six-year-old Suzie Jones's house and calls into question everything she thought she knew about home, family, and God. It's the summer of 1972, when six-year-old Suzie Jones and her siblings are whisked away from their home in the middle of the night, never to return again. Hurricane Agnes has triggered a devastating flood that destroys the family home and business. Suzie and her family are then set on an exhausting yet exhilarating four-year journey to build back their lives. Suzie bounces from one quirky family member to the next before she and her family settle into a government-provided trailer for the next two years. When Suzie and her family meet a community of kids and their free-thinking parents living in the other trailers, their lives are changed forever. This tale of loss, love, and discovery, told through the eyes of a child, is at times laugh-out-loud funny and at others deeply poignant. Chock-full of 1970s nostalgia, Suzie's story is a delightful trip down memory lane for those who lived through the decade and a vibrant illustration of life in the '70s for those who did not. From the Flood teaches us that even the most difficult life circumstances provide unexpected gifts.

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9781734083521

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""David Eggers once said that the world can be divided into two types of people-those who see the world through the eyes of children, and those who do not. Thanks to Suzanne's account of her childhood journey in the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes, we all get to vicariously experience what full catastrophe living is really about. As a person who has worked with children and families who have survived both acute and chronic trauma, I gained more perspective from this wise and beautiful seven-year-old than I learned from many experts in the field."" -Steve Gross, chief playmaker, Life Is Good Kids Foundation ""From the Flood is a powerful reminder of how the very best parts of living this human life often exist at the same time as the hardest. By bringing us into her seven-year-old mind during a natural disaster and its aftermath, Sue Jones illuminates the essential role of connection in healing and resilience building. She reminds us (with all the joy, irritation, and unfiltered honesty of childhood) that play is a path to peace, and that a few moments of attuned attention from a loved one can give us extraordinary strength, even in the midst of overwhelming challenges. Reading this book was a joy, an unexpected source of support, an invitation to revisit my own childhood voice, and a nudge to open my heart wider to the possibilities of the present moment-for myself and my children."" -Jennifer Cohen Harper, author of the Thank You Children's Series: Books for Building Gratitude, Self-Compassion and Personal Power ""This remarkable true story reads like a fast-paced novel with funny and loveable characters. Floods of one kind or another roar through everyone's life eventually, and Suzanne Jones shows us how we can live through them and even get to a better place. Gritty, honest, revelatory about the roles (and rights) of women, soulful, hopeful, and smart-this is a wonderful, special book."" -Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence ""[For] a parent during the pandemic, From the Flood's focus on living in the moment, the joys of friendship, and [the] healing power of connection is a huge reminder that the worst of times for an adult can be the best of times for a child. This book is an important lesson about trauma and resilience. The voice of Suzanne's childhood self as the narrator is perfect. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read this gem-it's the perfect book to remind us of what's important right now."" -Charlotte Dixon, MFA, EdD ""From the Flood is a delightful, riveting tale of young Suzanne's discovery of the traumas and gifts offered by the world and the relationships that create who you become. Her insights into her poignant characters never cease to inspire and entertain. As she guides us through her family's unexpected universe, she pulls us in with a child's wonder, longing to make sense of what is happening around her. It is an honor to participate in her blossoming awareness, as she beautifully engages with everything around her and creates a path of joy and resilience."" -Nan Herron, MD, medical director, Santa Rosa Behavioral Healthcare Hospital

David Eggers once said that the world can be divided into two types of people-those who see the world through the eyes of children, and those who do not. Thanks to Suzanne's account of her childhood journey in the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes, we all get to vicariously experience what full catastrophe living is really about. As a person who has worked with children and families who have survived both acute and chronic trauma, I gained more perspective from this wise and beautiful seven-year-old than I learned from many experts in the field. -Steve Gross, chief playmaker, Life Is Good Kids Foundation From the Flood is a powerful reminder of how the very best parts of living this human life often exist at the same time as the hardest. By bringing us into her seven-year-old mind during a natural disaster and its aftermath, Sue Jones illuminates the essential role of connection in healing and resilience building. She reminds us (with all the joy, irritation, and unfiltered honesty of childhood) that play is a path to peace, and that a few moments of attuned attention from a loved one can give us extraordinary strength, even in the midst of overwhelming challenges. Reading this book was a joy, an unexpected source of support, an invitation to revisit my own childhood voice, and a nudge to open my heart wider to the possibilities of the present moment-for myself and my children. -Jennifer Cohen Harper, author of the Thank You Children's Series: Books for Building Gratitude, Self-Compassion and Personal Power This remarkable true story reads like a fast-paced novel with funny and loveable characters. Floods of one kind or another roar through everyone's life eventually, and Suzanne Jones shows us how we can live through them and even get to a better place. Gritty, honest, revelatory about the roles (and rights) of women, soulful, hopeful, and smart-this is a wonderful, special book. -Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence [For] a parent during the pandemic, From the Flood's focus on living in the moment, the joys of friendship, and [the] healing power of connection is a huge reminder that the worst of times for an adult can be the best of times for a child. This book is an important lesson about trauma and resilience. The voice of Suzanne's childhood self as the narrator is perfect. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read this gem-it's the perfect book to remind us of what's important right now. -Charlotte Dixon, MFA, EdD From the Flood is a delightful, riveting tale of young Suzanne's discovery of the traumas and gifts offered by the world and the relationships that create who you become. Her insights into her poignant characters never cease to inspire and entertain. As she guides us through her family's unexpected universe, she pulls us in with a child's wonder, longing to make sense of what is happening around her. It is an honor to participate in her blossoming awareness, as she beautifully engages with everything around her and creates a path of joy and resilience. -Nan Herron, MD, medical director, Santa Rosa Behavioral Healthcare Hospital

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