Clementine

Ages 10 And Up, Grades 5 And Up

New York Times best-selling author Ann Hood pens a poignant story of grief and adolescent despair in this follow-up to Jude Banks, Superhero.

Meet Clementine. She's quippy, sarcastic, and dramatic. And the overwhelming guilt of her sister's death weighs on her so heavily that she no longer feels like living.

As Clementine and her mother attempt to continue their lives after Halley's death, the world around them changes. Clementine's best friend now feels like a stranger. Her new school is full of spoiled, carefree kids. She kisses boys just to feel something. She tries to live in the moment. But ultimately, Clementine feels trapped in a snow globe: the real world is out there, while she's stuck in a world where tears like gallons fall all around her. 

In her signature lyrical prose, Hood crafts an extraordinary story of grief and guilt, asking the important question: How can you find the will to live again in the face of overwhelming despair?

Praise for Jude Banks, Superhero:

"Hood is brilliant at showing the ordinary moments of a family’s heartbreak… There are many readers who are navigating guilt and sorrow right now — for them, this book is a must. And for those lucky enough to take the journey only in their imaginations, this is a story of resilience in the face of devastating pain.”—New York Times Book Review   

"A tender story of grief and joy... a remarkable read."—School Library Connection (Starred Review)

"Hood’s careful gardening of emotions makes this a striking read... Fans of Ali Benjamin's The Thing about Jellyfish will appreciate Jude’s search for meaning and reason as he learns to live around the hole his sister has left."—Booklist (Starred Review)

“Ann Hood tells Jude’s story of grief without coating it in too much sugar; it’s real, and therein lies its power. Jude Banks is a mirror for anyone who’s experienced loss, and a testament to the power of human connection.”—Jack Cheng, award-winning author of See You in the Cosmos

"Jude Banks is warm and inviting, even as it balances the difficult topics of loss and healing—a powerful and compelling story for anyone who has known loss."—Rex Ogle, award winning author of Free Lunch

About the Author

Ann Hood is the author of the best-selling novels The Book That Matters Most, The Obituary Writer, Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine, The Red Thread, and The Knitting Circle, as well as the memoir Comfort: A Journey Through Grief, a New York Times Editor's Choice and an Entertainment Weekly top ten nonfiction book of 2008. She has won two Pushcart Prizes and a Best American Spiritual Writing Award, two Best American Food Writing Awards, and a Best American Travel Writing award. She is the editor of the anthologies Knitting Yarns: Writers Writing About Knitting, Knitting Pearls: More Writers Writing About Knitting, and Providence Noir. Hood is also the author of books for children, including She Loves You (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah) and How I Saved My Father (And Ruined Everything Else). She lives in Providence, Rhode Island, and New York City, and is married to the writer Michael Ruhlman.

Author Residence: Providence, Rhode Island; New York City, New York