Awards

• Commended for CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens (Fall 2021) 2021 (Canada)
• Short-listed for White Pine Award 2022 (Canada)

Overview

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.

Full Product Details

9781459746183

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Reviews

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. * Amanda Leduc, author of The Centaur's Wife * As Dills tells his story and shares the worst and weirdest summer of his life, it feels deliciously like eavesdropping. A compelling read. * Karen Bass, author of Two Times a Traitor * 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. * Roz Nay, bestselling author of Hurry Home * 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. * Anne Valente, author of The Desert Sky Before Us *

As Dills tells his story and shares the worst and weirdest summer of his life, it feels deliciously like eavesdropping. A compelling read. * Karen Bass, author of Two Times a Traitor * 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. * Roz Nay, bestselling author of Hurry Home * 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. * Anne Valente, author of The Desert Sky Before Us *

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. * Amanda Leduc, author of The Centaur's Wife * 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. * Anne Valente, author of The Desert Sky Before Us * 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. * Roz Nay, bestselling author of Hurry Home * As Dills tells his story and shares the worst and weirdest summer of his life, it feels deliciously like eavesdropping. A compelling read. * Karen Bass, author of Two Times a Traitor *

A lovely examination of how families can break and heal over time ... a great read. * Read and Reviewed * 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. * School Library Journal * 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. * Roz Nay, bestselling author of Hurry Home * As Dills tells his story and shares the worst and weirdest summer of his life, it feels deliciously like eavesdropping. A compelling read. * Karen Bass, author of Two Times a Traitor * 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. * CM: Canadian Review of Materials * 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. * Anne Valente, author of The Desert Sky Before Us * 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. * Amanda Leduc, author of The Centaur's Wife * 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. * Young Adulting * van Staalduinen does an excellent job of capturing a teen voice and capturing Dills's emotional and challenging journey towards healing. * Canadian Children's Book News, starred review * ... 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. * CanLit for Little Canadians *

Author Information

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.

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