Amelia Unabridged
Wednesday/St. Martin's, 2021
Agent: Thao Le
Sparks fly between two teens as they grapple with grief, love, and the future in this unforgettable debut novel sure to entice fans of Jandy Nelson and Jennifer E. Smith
Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They’re the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia’s father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. It’s the perfect way to start off their last summer before college.
In a heartbeat, everything goes horribly wrong. When Jenna gets a chance to meet the author and Amelia doesn’t, the two have a blowout fight like they’ve never experienced. And before Amelia has a chance to mend things, Jenna is killed in a freak car accident. Grief-stricken, and without her best friend to guide her, Amelia questions everything she had planned for the future.
When a mysterious, rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amelia is convinced that it somehow came from Jenna. Tracking the book to an obscure but enchanting bookstore in Michigan, Amelia is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the enigmatic and handsome N. E. Endsley himself, the reason for Amelia’s and Jenna’s fight and perhaps the clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.
Ashley Schumacher's devastating and beautiful debut, Amelia Unabridged, is about finding hope and strength within yourself, and maybe, just maybe, falling in love while you do it.
Reviews:
"Amelia is as familiar as a best friend, realistic and perfect in her imperfections. Readers who know what it's like to return to a favorite book to find comfort, hope, and familiarity will instantly connect with this novel."
—Hallie Fields, Senior Teen Services Librarian, Alameda Free Library
"I was initially drawn to this story for the book loving main character, but I completely fell in love with it because of the lovely, heart-felt rendering of a girl coming to terms with a terrible grief, and finding solace in new connections, the promise of future happiness, & yes- the unequaled power of a good story to provide escape, hope, & comfort."
—Sharon Layburn, Youth Services Librarian, South Huntington Public Library ?
"A life changing friendship cut short by tragedy and a girl held together by the stories she can no longer read, Amelia Unabridged is a triumph in grief and what comes after. I was captivated from page one. Ashley Schumacher is an author to watch out for."
—Mike Lasagna