And Then There Was Us
A mother's death forces a teen girl to reevaluate their tumultuous relationship in this powerful coming-of-age novel for teens. For fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

After years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother, fourteen-year-old Coi moved in with her father, and together they created a peaceful life. But now, four years later, that peace is shattered when her mother dies.

While Coi struggles to find kindness in her heart for the woman who did nothing but hurt her, her mother's passing does help reopen the door to her mother's side of the family. It's only through reconnecting with her estranged family members, especially her younger half-sister Kayla, that Coi's long-held views about her mother are challenged.

And when Coi begins to see visions of her mother in her dreams, she is forced to ask herself what it means to forgive and be forgiven, and, most importantly, what it means to be family.
1143764194
And Then There Was Us
A mother's death forces a teen girl to reevaluate their tumultuous relationship in this powerful coming-of-age novel for teens. For fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

After years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother, fourteen-year-old Coi moved in with her father, and together they created a peaceful life. But now, four years later, that peace is shattered when her mother dies.

While Coi struggles to find kindness in her heart for the woman who did nothing but hurt her, her mother's passing does help reopen the door to her mother's side of the family. It's only through reconnecting with her estranged family members, especially her younger half-sister Kayla, that Coi's long-held views about her mother are challenged.

And when Coi begins to see visions of her mother in her dreams, she is forced to ask herself what it means to forgive and be forgiven, and, most importantly, what it means to be family.
17.99 In Stock
And Then There Was Us

And Then There Was Us

by Kern Carter

Narrated by Eden Cupid

Unabridged — 5 hours, 57 minutes

And Then There Was Us

And Then There Was Us

by Kern Carter

Narrated by Eden Cupid

Unabridged — 5 hours, 57 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

$17.99
FREE With a B&N Audiobooks Subscription | Cancel Anytime
$0.00

Free with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription | Cancel Anytime

START FREE TRIAL

Already Subscribed? 

Sign in to Your BN.com Account


Listen on the free Barnes & Noble NOOK app


Related collections and offers

FREE

with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription

Or Pay $17.99

Overview

A mother's death forces a teen girl to reevaluate their tumultuous relationship in this powerful coming-of-age novel for teens. For fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

After years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother, fourteen-year-old Coi moved in with her father, and together they created a peaceful life. But now, four years later, that peace is shattered when her mother dies.

While Coi struggles to find kindness in her heart for the woman who did nothing but hurt her, her mother's passing does help reopen the door to her mother's side of the family. It's only through reconnecting with her estranged family members, especially her younger half-sister Kayla, that Coi's long-held views about her mother are challenged.

And when Coi begins to see visions of her mother in her dreams, she is forced to ask herself what it means to forgive and be forgiven, and, most importantly, what it means to be family.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Shortlisted for the Canadian Children's Book Centre's Amy Mathers Teen Book Award, 2025
One of CCBC’s Best Books for Kids and Teens for 2024

An Indigo Best Book of 2024 So Far

PRAISE FOR And Then There Was Us:


"An emotional story of family and growth." Kirkus Reviews

"[W]ell paced and populated with strong and sympathetic characters." Booklist

"A well-written, thoughtful, and sympathetic deep dive into understanding and surviving an abusive parent." School Library Journal

"A deftly told, deeply moving, nuanced exploration of the complexities of grief, generational trauma and coming of age which delves into the seemingly contradictory feelings arising from loss in tangent with abuse . . . Carter captures the complexity of relationships with flawed people and the challenges with maintaining concern for others when in crisis." —Canadian Children's Book Centre

"This is [a] tale of family dynamics and difficult choices." Winnipeg Free Press

"And Then There Was Us is an important read for anyone looking for a book that explores reevaluating childhood trauma and complicated family relationships." Young Adulting

Kirkus Reviews

2024-01-19
A teenager, whose family has roots in Trinidad and Jamaica, juggles anxiety and grief after the sudden death of her mother.

It’s been over four years since 18-year-old Coi last heard from her estranged mother, Crissy, who breaks the silence between them with an unexpected call. It’s a terse exchange, filled with hostility, and results in Coi’s having a panic attack. Her father offers constant support, yet even his cocoon of protection can’t buffer her from the dramatic shifts and ongoing fallout between his former partner and only daughter. Coi voices a glaring truth about her expectations of the flawed mother who rejected her: “She didn’t have to be perfect.” Aunty, Crissy’s younger sister, “was always present,” however, recognizing the early signs of turmoil between Coi’s parents. After Crissy gets in a fatal car accident, Coi grapples with repairing the rifts and ruptures within her family; initially, she’s barely on speaking terms with her maternal grandmother. The first-person perspective immerses readers in Coi’s feelings, including her understandably sharp anger and disappointment, as the book explores themes of reconciliation and overcoming familial conflicts. Aunty supports Coi in becoming her own woman by sharing feminist texts; the book contains an implicit critique of the “strong Black woman” trope and also unpacks the fallout when a woman isn’t “a good mother.” Carter’s language isn’t dazzling, but his prose is clean, and he weaves in pop-culture references, adding a layer of relatability for young readers.

An emotional story of family and growth. (Fiction. 13-18)

2025 Amy Mathers Teen Book Award, Short-listed

Product Details

BN ID: 2940159252524
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication date: 04/09/2024
Edition description: Unabridged
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews