All We Can Do Is Wait
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Teens face tragedy in compelling, edgy coming-of-ager.
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What's the Story?
In ALL WE CAN DO IS WAIT, a group of teens gathers in a Boston emergency room, each waiting to learn the fate of loved ones when a busy road bridge over the Mystic River collapses. As the wait drags on over many hours, the teens get to know one another bit by bit: who they're waiting for, what their lives are like, what events in the past have shaped them, and what they hope for the future. As they worry about the present and the future, they remember past events, exploring a wide range of emotions and experiences. But can they learn how to face grief, love, fear, determination, friends, family, and lives that will never be the same?
Is It Any Good?
Richard Lawson's debut is an edgy, compelling, unique, and moving tapestry of teens' lives and emotions. All We Can Do Is Wait plunks a group of teens into the not-terribly-interesting setting of a hospital waiting room and allows the drab backdrop to fade away as the spotlight shines on each character, taking them in turns while also weaving back and forth in time. There's always something to keep the pages turning, whether it's what happened that fateful summer or what happened to a sister who was driving across the bridge the moment it collapsed.
Although some characters are more likable than others, we can all feel empathy for them as they go through what for many of us is our worst nightmare realized. And amid all the grief, fear, and anxiety there's also a lot of hope for what we can become, and how we can get through the tough times together. Best for mature teens and up who can handle some of the edgy content involving alcohol, marijuana, and sex.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the drinking and drug use in All We Can Do Is Wait. Is it realistic? Are there any realistic consequences?
How much strong language is OK in books, movies, TV, etc.? Is it a big deal?
Which characters or messages resonated with you the most? Were any unrealistic, or hard to believe? What's your biggest takeaway about family, friendship, facing uncertainty?
Book Details
- Author: Richard Lawson
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters , Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Razorbill
- Publication date: February 6, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 288
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 13, 2018
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