More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer is the Hamilton Book of the Week nominated by Jeanne Mocehl, the librarian at Soddy Daisy High School.
“More Than We Can Tell is an emotional page-turner that focuses on family, friendships, and overcoming traumatic situations. Students love the realistic way the author brings the story to life, and they deeply connect with the characters to empathize with their struggles,” Ms. Mochel said.
More Than We Can Tell is a must-read story of two teens struggling under the burden of secrets, and the love that sets them free. With loving adoptive parents by his side, Rev Fletcher has managed to keep the demons of his past at bay until he gets a letter from his abusive father, and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back. Emma Blue's parents are constantly fighting, and her only escape is the computer game she built from scratch. But when a cruel online troll's harassment escalates, she not only loses confidence but starts to fear for her safety. When Rev and Emma meet, they're both longing to lift the burden of their secrets. They connect instantly and deeply, promising to help each other no matter what. But soon Rev and Emma's secrets threaten to crush them, and they'll need more than a promise to find their way out.
From Booklist Online:
Rev Fletcher, adopted by his foster parents at a young age, never takes their love and respect for granted. Ten years after becoming part of their family, he receives a letter from his abusive fire-and-brimstone father, causing memories of the severe physical traumas Rev endured during his childhood to burn deeper than ever. Meanwhile, Emma Blue is on top of the world, having created an online game, OtherLANDS, that has already developed a community. But her parents’ fights and mother’s constant criticism, already wearing her down, take a backseat to one player’s constant harassment and vile threats. By the time Rev and Emma meet, their wounded souls and hard-kept secrets are eating them alive, begging to be shared. Their immediate connection sears them together with promises to help one another stand up to the people they fear most. Hard, sharp edges and guarded personal lives punctuate Rev’s and Emma’s stories. Kemmerer carefully peels away the characters’ inhibitions, illustrating the fragility of their ability to trust. Mature topics, including foster parenting and divorce, creativity and autonomy, religion gone awry, the politics of trust, and facing one’s most intimate fears, make this an absorbing, emotional roller coaster of a read. Readers looking for a different sort of coming-of-age story or teen protagonists grappling with complex situations will fall in love with this romance-tinged novel.
To check out more recommended books in the Hamilton Book of the Week go to https://www.hcde.org/parents___students/suggested_reading.
Hamilton Book of the Week seeks to move Hamilton County Schools closer to district goals found in the Future Ready 2023 action plan. We hope to encourage kids to read more books for fun by sharing books popular at area schools.
District goals more students reading will address include:
- Reading improvement will increase the number of students on-track or mastering English language arts
- Improve the district ACT score to a district average of 21
- Reach the target goal of a 90 percent graduation rate by 2023