{"product_id":"the-apocalypse-of-elena-mendoza-9781481498555","title":"The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza","description":"\u003cb\u003eA Junior Library Guild Selection\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Surreal, brainy, and totally captivating.\" --\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e \"Provocative and moving.\" --\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e \"Hutchinson artfully blends the realistic and the surreal.\" --\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review) \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom the critically acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eWe Are the Ants\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAt the Edge of the Universe \u003c\/i\u003ecomes 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.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSixteen-year-old Elena Mendoza is the product of a virgin birth. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHutchinson, Shaun David:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Shaun David Hutchinson is the author of numerous books for young adults, including \u003ci\u003eThe Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAt the Edge of the Universe\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eWe Are the Ants\u003c\/i\u003e. He also edited the anthologies \u003ci\u003eViolent Ends\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFeral Youth\u003c\/i\u003e and wrote the memoir \u003ci\u003eBrave Face\u003c\/i\u003e, which chronicles his struggles with depression and coming out during his teenage years. He lives in Seattle, where he enjoys drinking coffee, yelling at the TV, and eating cake. Visit him at ShaunDavidHutchinson.com or on Twitter @ShaunieDarko.","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster Books for Young Readers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50338284765458,"sku":"9781481498555","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_7a9a103f-b61f-4715-95e1-eac304380015.jpg?v=1727980776","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-apocalypse-of-elena-mendoza-9781481498555","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}