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Title details for The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shaun David Hutchinson - Available

The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza

by Shaun David Hutchinson
Candace Thaxton
Audiobook
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A Junior Library Guild Selection

"Surreal, brainy, and totally captivating." —Booklist (starred review)
"Provocative and moving." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Hutchinson artfully blends the realistic and the surreal." —School Library Journal (starred review)

From the critically acclaimed author of We Are the Ants and At the Edge of the Universe comes a mind-bending, riveting novel about a teen who was born to a virgin mother and realizes she has the power to heal—but that power comes at a huge cost.
Sixteen-year-old Elena Mendoza is the product of a virgin birth.

This can be scientifically explained (it's called parthenogenesis), but what can't be explained is how Elena is able to heal Freddie, the girl she's had a crush on for years, from a gunshot wound in a Starbucks parking lot. Or why the boy who shot Freddie, David Combs, disappeared from the same parking lot minutes later after getting sucked up into the clouds. Other things that can't be explained are the talking girl on the front of a tampon box, or the reasons that David Combs shot Freddie in the first place.

As more unbelievable things occur, and Elena continues to perform miracles, the only remaining explanation is the least logical of all—that the world is actually coming to an end, and Elena is possibly the only one who can do something about it.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    February 6, 2018

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781508245636
      • File size: 267452 KB
      • Duration: 09:17:11

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from December 11, 2017
      Sixteen-year-old Elena Mendoza doesn’t have a father—hers was a virgin birth (scientifically known as parthenogenesis), and Elena has never stopped feeling like an outsider or freak. (Her classmates have nicknamed her Mary, even though Jesus would be the more biblically accurate nickname.) Elena also hears voices, and after her crush Winifred (aka Freddie) is shot while Elena is working at Starbucks, the voice (coming from the company’s corporate logo) tells Elena to heal her—which she does. Caustically funny and irreverent, the voices urge Elena to heal others, but people disappear from the planet every time she does. As he did in At the Edge of the Universe and We Are the Ants, Hutchinson uses an “Is this the end of all things?” premise to create provocative and moving insights into the angst, wonder, and uncertainty of being a teenager. Elena’s carefully developed relationships with her supportive best friend Fadil, her ex Javier, the conflicted Freddie, and her family bring additional depth to a thoughtful story about choice and destiny. Ages 14–up. Agent: Katie Shea Boutillier, Donald Maass Literary.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Elena Mendoza is the product of a virgin birth, earning her no shortage of mockery and isolation from peers and strangers alike. At age 16, she learns she can heal people, but her new power comes with a harrowing price. Narrator Candace Thaxton handles a varied cast with ease, capturing Elena's ongoing conflicts and the personalities of her friends, enemies, and the various inanimate objects that channel holy spirits. Hutchinson's story is full of pain, hope, and humor, and Thaxton's brisk pacing and full characterizations enhance the warring desires and high stakes. Strong friendships buoy this narrative, and the combination of romance, supernatural elements, and danger make this a solid match for fans of slow-burning thrillers and YA fiction. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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