{"title":"Brenda Rufener","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"since-we-last-spoke","title":"Since We Last Spoke","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA YALSA 2020 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“A powerful story about grief, loss, and the restorative nature of love, \u003ci\u003eSince We Last Spoke \u003c\/i\u003ewill stay with you long after you’ve finished.” —Amber Smith, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Way I Used to Be\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Last to Let Go\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Rufener handles topics such as love, loss, and grief with a deft and steady hand, intermingling moments of humor and warmth as two families learn to navigate the tragedy that’s intertwined them forever.” —Miranda Asebedo, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Deepest Roots\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Rufener ambitiously tackles many topics in a single novel: manslaughter, suicide, bullying, sex, drugs, mental health, family violence, parental neglect, and abuse. Rufener successfully weaves all of these difficult subjects into a real and relatable narrative without platitudes or apologies. This is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story that stands on its own.\" \u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect for fans of Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon, this heartbreaking and uplifting novel captures the ups and downs of teen love in the face of unimaginable grief and the rocky journey to healing, peace, and forgiveness. From breakout author Brenda Rufener (\u003ci\u003eWhere I Live\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Aggi Frank and Max Granger finally admitted their feelings for each other last December, it felt like love was beautiful and endless . . . until it wasn’t.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA fatal car accident involving their older siblings throws their lives into sudden chaos. And with a restraining order now in place between the two bitter households, Aggi and Max’s love runs cold. Being together again seems like a distant fantasy, even though they share the same driveway.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStill, Plum Lake is a small town, and staying apart can’t last forever. Aggi and Max eventually reunite at a lake-house party and break the ice after a year of silence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut just as they begin to rebuild their relationship, the unthinkable happens, leading them to confront each other and their families in the hope of mending the broken pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Rufener's treatment of grief is nuanced and deeply felt, and Aggi's and Max's complex feelings about themselves, their families, and their aborted romance drive the skillfully crafted narrative. A compelling story about grief told through the voices of two expertly drawn protagonists.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTorn apart by tragedy and forbidden to speak, can two teens find their way back to each other when their families are determined to keep them apart?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Modern Romeo and Juliet:\u003c\/b\u003e With a restraining order in place and their families locked in a bitter feud, their love is the one thing that could either heal them or break them for good.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSecond Chance Romance:\u003c\/b\u003e After a year of forced silence, a lake-house party brings Aggi and Max face-to-face again, giving them one last chance to rebuild what their families destroyed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDual POV:\u003c\/b\u003e Told from the perspectives of both Aggi and Max, this emotional story explores two sides of a tragedy that shattered two families.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSmall Town Setting:\u003c\/b\u003e In the tiny town of Plum Lake, Aggi and Max share a driveway but are worlds apart, making every secret meeting a risk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Brenda Rufener","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":53138953273635,"sku":"9780062571083","price":14.39,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/2258\/5123\/files\/9780062571083.jpg?v=1741112035"},{"product_id":"where-i-live","title":"Where I Live","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIncluded on Bustle's list of the \"27 Most Anticipated YA Contemporary Books Hitting Shelves in 2018\"!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Fans of Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon will enjoy this realistic debut novel, which brings to light heavy topics of homelessness and abuse.” —\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e“Where I Live\u003c\/i\u003e is hard-hitting and real and filled with hope. It makes you want to find your voice, find your people, and tell your story.” —Jennifer Niven, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eAll the Bright Places\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHolding Up the Universe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom debut author Brenda Rufener comes a heart-wrenching and evocative story perfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eThirteen Reasons Why, Girl in Pieces, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eAll the Bright Places.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinden Rose has a big secret—she is homeless and living in the halls of her small-town high school. Her position as school blog editor, her best friends, Ham and Seung, and the promise of a future far away are what keep Linden under the radar and moving forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut when cool-girl Bea comes to school with a bloody lip, the damage hits too close to home. Linden begins looking at Bea’s life, and soon her investigation prompts people to pay more attention. And attention is the last thing she needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinden knows the only way to put a stop to the violence is to tell Bea’s story and come to terms with her own painful past. Even if that means breaking her rules for survival and jeopardizing the secrets she’s worked so hard to keep.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis moving and realistic story of survival explores the tough topics teens face:\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLiving in High School:\u003c\/b\u003e Linden Rose has her survival routine down to a science. But living in the halls of Hinderwood High means one wrong move could expose everything.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Powerful Friendship Triangle:\u003c\/b\u003e Her best friends Ham and Seung are her entire world. They're the one thing holding her together—and the secret she's most terrified of losing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eUncovering Abuse:\u003c\/b\u003e When popular girl Bea shows up with a bloody lip, Linden can't look away. But investigating the violence puts a target on her own back.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Story of Resilience:\u003c\/b\u003e Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon, this contemporary YA tackles difficult subjects with unflinching honesty and hope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Brenda Rufener","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":53152811122979,"sku":"9780062571090","price":14.39,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/2258\/5123\/files\/9780062571090.jpg?v=1741156765"}],"url":"https:\/\/epicreads.com\/collections\/brenda-rufener.oembed","provider":"Epic Reads","version":"1.0","type":"link"}