The Children’s Book Committee of the renowned Bank Street College of Education has released its Best Children’s Books of the Year 2021 Edition, and I’m so pleased to share the news that All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing made the list for readers between the ages of 9 and 12. It received a designation for Outstanding Merit.

Written by me, illustrated by Nicole Xu, and published by Carolrhoda Books/Lerner Publishing, All of a Sudden and Forever traces the recovery of the survivors, first responders, and family members of victims of the 1995 terrorist attack.

Part of that recovery included extending help to others in need. Recipients of that assistance included people directly affected by 9/11, who themselves have paid forward the help they received. I’ll be thinking of this chain of help and healing next week as we commemorate the tragic events of 20 years ago.