Everything’s Not Lost follows Ella as she navigates returning to school after her sister’s death, getting into a fight, and having a mental breakdown. The characters and situations in this novel are realistic, messy, and complex, and at times there are no clear answers to questions that arise while reading (just like life). I found myself becoming completely invested in all of them and rooting for them to overcome their obstacles and succeed. From a teaching standpoint, there are many opportunities for deep discussion and empathy building because of how deftly Joseph navigates grief, addiction, mental illness, and bullying. This is my 27th year as an educator, and I can say that this book will benefit so many students. I could not put this down.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Frederick Joseph for the ARC.