about the book
For thirteen-year-old Jake Green, life in Coral Springs, Florida, is pretty ordinary. Days are filled with family, helping elderly neighbors with yard work, running on the cross country team, and playing video games with his best friend Sam Medina. Jake met Sam just before first grade in the park sand box. They both brought little green soldiers to play with, and when a couple of bullies tried to take the toys, both boys chased the older kids away. They have been friends ever since.
Jake is obsessed with all things military. His mother’s dad died a hero during World War II, and when he grows up, Jake wants to be just like grandpa. But Jake has to watch the military stuff around Mom. She is very anti-war and forbids Jake from even playing military video games.
Everything changes on September 11, 2001, the day terrorists attack the World Trade Center. Jake watches as the government tracks down information about the men and is horrified to learn that one lived in Coral Springs. He even did business at the bank where Sam’s dad worked! It turns out Mr. Medina unknowingly helped a terrorist withdraw a large amount of cash just days before the attack! Because Mr. Medina and his family are of Arab descent, the FBI takes him into custody, suspecting him of aiding the terrorists.
Of course, Jake doesn’t believe it for a moment. But though the Medinas have been close family friends for years, even his mother turns against them. As tensions rise at home, things get worse at school. Bullies Rigo and Bobby are targeting all Muslims, and after Sam is beaten, Jake gets revenge, ending up benched, grounded, and alienated from everyone.
As his world falls apart around him, Jake’s sense of safety crumples and his surety about good and bad shatters. He is tempted to just walk away from this whole mess. But then Jake learns that the bullies are planning to disrupt a peace rally, that Sam has been keeping secrets, and that his grandpa is not the hero he thought.
More than ever, Jake is now convinced that he has to soldier on. His grandmother once said that “just a drop of water can have a big impact”. Jake plans to be that drop, and then he might just become the hero he has always aspired to be.
about the author
Just like every other American who lived through the terrorist attack on 9/11, Kerry O’Malley Cerra was flooded with emotions: deep anger, overwhelming sadness, and great pride. Then it was discovered that Mohamed Atta, the hijacker on American Airlines Flight 11 lived not far from her in Coral Springs, Florida. Suddenly hundreds of what ifs bothered Kerry. They all revolved around “What if my friend’s parents had helped these men?”
She met her Middle Eastern friend in college. He was a fun fellow who came to the U.S. to study. She even went to visit his devout Islamic family abroad. His parents were wonderful, and when they moved to the U.S. to be closer to their boys, she was thrilled. After 9/11, she found herself doubting them but, at the same time, hating that she was even questioning their innocence. Though they were cleared by the FBI, their lives became very difficult.
After they learned of her doubt and forgave her graciously, Kerry started researching how others felt and reacted after 9/11. She learned that many turned to mosques, seeking answers. Since the themes of bigotry, hatred, bullying, friendship, peace, and forgiveness are universal, Kerry knew that her memories and feelings would make a good book, just like the historical fiction she uses in her history classroom to supplement the texts. The book would make the event more personal and real. Just a Drop of Water is Kerry’s debut novel for young adult readers.
A native Philadelphian, she currently makes her home in Florida with her husband, children, and “three poorly behaved dogs.”
Sources:
Author website
Author biography: Amazon
Book trailer: Just a Drop of Water
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