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For This Life Only

About The Book

A young man struggles to move forward after the death of his twin brother in this “poignant and powerful” (Kirkus Reviews) coming-of-age tale about loss, redemption, love, and the moment you begin to see the world differently.

Three minutes.

Jacob Palmer died for three life-changing minutes.

And when he woke up, nothing was the same. Elijah, his twin brother, is dead, and his family is broken. Jace’s planned future is crushed, along with his pitching arm. Everyone keeps telling him that Eli’s in a better place, but Jace isn’t so sure. Because in those three minutes, there was nothing.

Overwhelmed by guilt and doubt, Jace struggles to adjust to this new version of the world, one without his brother, one without the certainties he once relied on. And then Thera comes into his life.

She’s the last girl he should be turning to for help.

But she’s also the first person to truly see him.

About The Author

Photograph by Vania Stoyanova

Stacey Kade is the author of the Ghost and the Goth trilogy (The Ghost and the GothQueen of the Dead, and Body & Soul), the Project Paper Doll series (The RulesThe Hunt, and The Trials), For This Life Only, and Finding Felicity. She lives in a suburb of Chicago with her husband and two retired racing greyhounds. Find her on Twitter (@StaceyKade), Instagram (@AuthorStaceyKade), and her website StaceyKade.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (August 30, 2016)
  • Length: 320 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781481432504
  • Ages: 14 - 99

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Raves and Reviews

“Kade’s writing effectively conveys loss; readers can feel the trauma of losing not only a family member but also a sense of belonging.”

– School Library Journal

“Kade's contemplation of life and the afterlife is unflinching, and Jace's journey through his grief is messy, raw, and, above all, real. Spot-on dialogue and an authentic voice keep this story fresh. Poignant and powerful.”

– Kirkus Reviews

"A striking meditation on grief, blame, fate, and losing one's faith."

– Publishers Weekly

"A thought-provoking and hopeful look at grief and recovery."

– Justine Magazine

"Jace narrates in an authentic, questioning voice that captures everything from identity loss to survivor guilt."

– Booklist

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More books from this author: Stacey Kade