And We Stay — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
“A gentle, lyrical story of incomprehensible sorrow faced with quiet courage.”—ELIZABETH WEIN, New York Times bestselling author
“Hubbard treats tragedy and new beginnings with a skilled, delicate hand.”—JOHN COREY WHALEY, author of Where Things Come Back, winner of the Michael L. Printz Award
Senior Paul Wagoner walks into his school with a stolen gun, threatens his girlfriend, Emily Beam, and then takes his own life. Soon after, angry and guilt-ridden Emily is sent to a boarding school in Amherst, Massachusetts, where two quirky fellow students and the spirit of Emily Dickinson offer helping hands. But it is up to Emily Beam to heal her own damaged self, to find the good behind the bad, hope inside the despair, and springtime under the snow.
A Boston Globe Best YA Novel of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A Tayshas High School Reading List Selection
A North Carolina Young Adult book Award Nominee
* "As graceful as a feather drifting down, this lyrical story delivers a deep journey of healing on a tragic theme.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred
* "And We Stay is a little gem of a book. . . . there is certainly something for anyone looking for a good read with a strong, believable female lead who is working her hardest to overcome tragedy.”—School Library Journal, Starred
“Hubbard’s writing is elegant and emotional.”—Publisher’s Weekly
“This novel is accomplished, polished, and mixes prose and poetry to stunning effect.”—Booklist
“Hubbard . . . captures perfectly the turbulence of young love, the bonds of friendship, and the push-and-pull dynamic between teens and adults.”—VOYA
Frequently asked questions
Is And We Stay appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The narrative involves a significant violent event where a character, Paul, threatens his girlfriend with a stolen gun and ultimately commits suicide in front of her. This central plot point indicates a serious level of violence. No scary content or themes were detected in the search results for 'And We Stay'.
Does And We Stay have violence?
The narrative involves a significant violent event where a character, Paul, threatens his girlfriend with a stolen gun and ultimately commits suicide in front of her. This central plot point indicates a serious level of violence.
Does And We Stay have scary content?
No scary content or themes were detected in the search results for 'And We Stay'.
Does And We Stay have religious themes?
The book includes a quote that critiques the authorship of the Bible, suggesting a critical view of religious texts. This indicates a presence of religious content, specifically related to Christianity.
Does And We Stay have racial/cultural content?
No racial themes or discussions about race were found in the search results for 'And We Stay'.
Does And We Stay have profanity?
No references to profanity or strong language were found in the search results for 'And We Stay'.
Does And We Stay have climate change?
No climate-related themes or discussions were found in the search results for 'And We Stay'.
Does And We Stay have sexual identity?
The story involves themes of teenage pregnancy and the pressure to have an abortion, which are related to sexual content. The protagonist's experiences with her boyfriend also suggest a focus on intimate relationships.
Does And We Stay have gender roles?
No specific gender roles or discussions about gender expectations were identified in the search results for 'And We Stay'.
Does And We Stay have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes detected in the search results for 'And We Stay'. The content primarily focuses on the protagonist's personal struggles and experiences rather than LGBTQ+ topics.
