Overview

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes-or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents. In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before-one in which her mother wasn't perfect and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

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9781478984290

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Reviews

The immediacy of Fortgang's narration tears down the wall separating listener and story just as powerfully as the storm rips apart Jersey's Missouri community. Each time Brown throws another sucker punch at the already down-and-out Jersey, Fortgang delivers the knife pain of regret and the dull ache of despair with vicious accuracy. Listeners will wonder how much more Jersey can endure just as Brown and Fortgang allow her a small measure of rest and healing. This captivating recording will engender deep feeling in listeners. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award. -- AudioFile Brown depicts Jersey's reaction to a frightening, life-altering situation expertly, and the protagonist's voice is authentic...Readers will be heartened to see glimpses of hope on the horizon. Overall, this is a wrenching story of the will to survive at any cost. -- School Library Journal The description of Jersey's surviving the storm all alone in the basement of her house is electrifying, and her struggle to survive the pain and suffering she endures is emotionally powerful. The book is a good read, and the characters are well developed. -- Children's Literature This is a gut-wrenching and poignant look at the aftermath of natural disaster and the secrets that families keep, written with raw honesty and deep emotion. -- Booklist A great balance between natural and emotional disasters, Torn Away is a superb read. This quick read is heavy and will remain on the reader's mind for days, if not weeks, after completing the novel. The world within the novel is so realistic that the reader will experience the pain of the characters. Jersey is a likable character who really connects with the reader. Well written and captivating, this novel is fantastic and will draw in many readers. -- VOYA Reviews by Teen Reviewer Rachel David Brown gives readers a true sense of the horror wrought by the storm and the agony of its aftermath; her ability to create rich, complex characters is once again in evidence. While the cruelty of Jersey's father's family is somewhat over the top, Jersey's feelings are achingly real and relatable. -- Publishers Weekly Torn Away is vivid and emotional as Jersey comes to terms with her grief, new life, and new knowledge. -- VOYA (starred review)

Author Information

Jennifer Brown writes and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri, area with her husband and three children. When not writing about serious subjects, Jennifer, a two-time winner of the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Award, is a columnist for the Kansas City Star. She is the author of Thousand Words; Perfect Escape; Bitter End, which was named an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults title; and Hate List, which was selected as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a VOYA Perfect Ten, and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Lauren Fortgang, a graduate of Fordham University's Theater Program, is an actress, costume designer, and narrator. She has recorded everything from video games to textbooks. Her audiobook narrations have earned AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed her as a finalist for an Audie Award in 2014.

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