A mother's death forces a teen girl to reevaluate their tumultuous relationship in this powerful coming-of-age novel for teens, now available in paperback. 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.
SHORTLIST
| 2025 Amy Mathers Teen Book Award
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
Kern Carter is a novelist who is celebrated for his captivating storytelling. With books such as And Then There Was Us and Boys and Girls Screaming, his stories explore themes of family, friendship, and the drama that can fracture those relationships. Kern has built a devoted readership not just for his novels, but for his writing on the intersection between literature and popular culture, both historically and through a contemporary lens. Kern also teaches professional writing at the college level, hosts workshops on craft and storytelling, and is in-demand as a public speaker for his expertise on creative culture. He is based in Toronto.
View titles by Kern Carter
A mother's death forces a teen girl to reevaluate their tumultuous relationship in this powerful coming-of-age novel for teens, now available in paperback. 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.
Awards
SHORTLIST
| 2025 Amy Mathers Teen Book Award
Reviews
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
Kern Carter is a novelist who is celebrated for his captivating storytelling. With books such as And Then There Was Us and Boys and Girls Screaming, his stories explore themes of family, friendship, and the drama that can fracture those relationships. Kern has built a devoted readership not just for his novels, but for his writing on the intersection between literature and popular culture, both historically and through a contemporary lens. Kern also teaches professional writing at the college level, hosts workshops on craft and storytelling, and is in-demand as a public speaker for his expertise on creative culture. He is based in Toronto.
View titles by Kern Carter
