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White Pine Award 2022 — Shortlisted
During a sweltering summer, Dills must come to terms with a horrific crime and the parent he loves who committed it.
Dills and his mom have returned to Hamilton, her hometown, hoping to leave the horrors of Windsor behind. But it’s impossible to escape the echoes of tragedy, and trouble always follows trouble.
When Dills hurts a new classmate, it comes out in court that he was in the Windsor High library when the shooter came in. But he won’t talk about what he saw, what he still sees whenever he closes his eyes. He can’t. He definitely can’t tell anyone that the Windsor Shooter is his stepfather, Jesse, that Jesse can speak into his mind from hundreds of kilometres away, and that Dills still loves him even though he committed an unspeakable crime.
During a sweltering summer, Dills must come to terms with a horrific crime and the parent he loves who committed it.
Dills and his mom have returned to Hamilton, her hometown, hoping to leave the horrors of Windsor behind. But it’s impossible to escape the echoes of tragedy, and trouble always follows trouble.
When Dills hurts a new classmate, it comes out in court that he was in the Windsor High library when the shooter came in. But he won’t talk about what he saw, what he still sees whenever he closes his eyes. He can’t. He definitely can’t tell anyone that the Windsor Shooter is his stepfather, Jesse, that Jesse can speak into his mind from hundreds of kilometres away, and that Dills still loves him even though he committed an unspeakable crime.
Price: $12.99
Pages: 304
Publisher: Dundurn Press
Imprint: Dundurn Press
Publication Date:
16 March 2021
Trim Size: 8.00 X 5.00 in
ISBN: 9781459746183
Format: Paperback
BISACs:
YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Literary, Children’s / Teenage fiction: School stories, YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Death, Grief, Bereavement, YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Social Themes / Violence, Children’s / Teenage personal & social topics: death & bereavement
In Nothing but Life, Brent van Staalduinen offers readers what the news often fails to provide in the wake of a mass shooting — what remains in the aftermath beyond sensationalism and how those affected grieve. In following a young boy and his family's journey toward healing after someone they love commits unthinkable violence, this novel sings with sorrow, yes, but also with great empathy and love.
Capturing perfectly the tender chaos of adolescence, Nothing but Life grabs you by the heartstrings and won’t let go. Beautifully written and satisfyingly redemptive.
As Dills tells his story and shares the worst and weirdest summer of his life, it feels deliciously like eavesdropping. A compelling read.
Brent van Staalduinen has once again created an unforgettable character and voice. In Dills, he brings forth our seething, hurting unpredictability along with all of our innocence, reminding us that love is that thing which complicates us and yet also, ultimately, makes us who we are. Nothing but Life is a gentle and yet razor-sharp look into what hurts and heals us, filled with a wisdom that permeates every sentence.
van Staalduinen writes with clarity and ease ... A moving portrayal of a complex situation that will appeal to teenagers mature enough to read about school shootings.
van Staalduinen does an excellent job of capturing a teen voice and capturing Dills's emotional and challenging journey towards healing.
... by writing with much seriousness, Brent van Staalduinen makes the reader realize that a story about a young man reclaiming his life rather than living it as the legacy of his stepdad's military PTSD or his own trauma associated with the shooting is sombre and requires thoughtfulness and compassion.
A lovely examination of how families can break and heal over time ... a great read.
Well-balanced with doses of humour, the plot and cast of characters are likely to capture and maintain readers' interest, qualities that make it likely to be much enjoyed by the target audience. Recommended.
It’s no surprise that Nothing But Life is receiving so much well–deserved attention. It is a must–read, not just for its YA audience, but for any adult working with teens.
Capturing perfectly the tender chaos of adolescence, Nothing but Life grabs you by the heartstrings and won’t let go. Beautifully written and satisfyingly redemptive.
As Dills tells his story and shares the worst and weirdest summer of his life, it feels deliciously like eavesdropping. A compelling read.
Brent van Staalduinen has once again created an unforgettable character and voice. In Dills, he brings forth our seething, hurting unpredictability along with all of our innocence, reminding us that love is that thing which complicates us and yet also, ultimately, makes us who we are. Nothing but Life is a gentle and yet razor-sharp look into what hurts and heals us, filled with a wisdom that permeates every sentence.
van Staalduinen writes with clarity and ease ... A moving portrayal of a complex situation that will appeal to teenagers mature enough to read about school shootings.
van Staalduinen does an excellent job of capturing a teen voice and capturing Dills's emotional and challenging journey towards healing.
... by writing with much seriousness, Brent van Staalduinen makes the reader realize that a story about a young man reclaiming his life rather than living it as the legacy of his stepdad's military PTSD or his own trauma associated with the shooting is sombre and requires thoughtfulness and compassion.
A lovely examination of how families can break and heal over time ... a great read.
Well-balanced with doses of humour, the plot and cast of characters are likely to capture and maintain readers' interest, qualities that make it likely to be much enjoyed by the target audience. Recommended.
It’s no surprise that Nothing But Life is receiving so much well–deserved attention. It is a must–read, not just for its YA audience, but for any adult working with teens.
Brent van Staalduinen is the author of two novels for adults and is an award-winning short story writer. A former tree planter, army medic, radio host, and high school English teacher, Brent now finds himself looking for stories and working at the local public library. He lives in Hamilton, Ontario.