What Happened Then, Erin Soderberg Downing
What Happened Then, Erin Soderberg Downing
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What Happened Then

Author: Erin Soderberg Downing

Narrator: Kate Coventry, Pete Cross, Cassandra Morris

Unabridged: 8 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/02/2025

Synopsis

"Get ready for a smart, fun, sharply written, page-turning heart-clencher of a story. I would follow Avery and Jax anywhere. And I will read everything Erin Soderberg Downing writes." - Natalie Lloyd, bestselling author of Hummingbird and The Witching WindIn this alternating narrative by bestselling author Erin Soderberg Downing, a decades-old family secret is buried within the sand, water, and woods... waiting for cousins Avery and Jax to find it and uncover the truth. Avery is a firecracker. In a crayon box of colors, she's the shocking pink and laser lemon, when all she wants is to be a quiet tan or soft cornflower blue. Her cousin, Jax, is a wall flower, because sometimes it's better to stay quiet when the alternative is to be told that you're doing or saying everything wrong. They seem to be the only ones who don't know what happened years ago when their family shattered and went off in different directions.When their beloved Aunt Robbie summons the large, estranged family together for a gathering at their broken-down family cabin on Crooked Lake, instead of getting the answer, Aunt Robbie delivers some devastating news. Avery and Jax learn that by the end of the summer, the island that's been a part of their family for generations is going up for sale.Forced to stay on the island with their estranged family to get it into shape to sell, Avery and Jax begin to dig through the history of the long-abandoned house and its contents... including a sprinkling of diary pages that were hidden around the island decades ago, the summer their family was torn apart.In this alternating narrative by bestselling author Erin Soderberg Downing, two cousins are finally beginning to understand the joy of family--however cracked and imperfect theirs might be. But if they have any chance of gluing their broken family back together, they'll have to first figure out what happened then.

About Erin Soderberg Downing

Erin Soderberg Downing has written more than fifty books for kids, tweens, and teens. Some of her most popular titles include the magical middle-grade novel Moon Shadow, as well as several fun series: Puppy Pirates, The Quirks, and Disney's Daring Dreamers Club. The first book in her series The Great Peach Experiment was selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Erin lives in Minneapolis with her fun husband, three hilarious kids, and two very fluffy dogs.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Bethany on September 19, 2025

I am begging you once again to not sleep on middle grade novels. I think a lot about grief and my relationship to it as someone who has been intimately acquainted with incredibly large losses my entire life. My life has been shaped quite honestly by the loss of my dad at 12, and it’s been 25 years n......more

Goodreads review by Carli on September 01, 2025

Many thanks to the author for sending me an advance copy of this book. It’s out tomorrow, so I finished it just in time! All opinions are my own. • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Told in two voices, cousins Jax and Avery are spending the summer with their extended family on the island their parents grew up going to ev......more

Goodreads review by Melanie on May 13, 2025

Erin Soderberg Downing, author of the wonderful The Great Peach Experiment series and standalones including Controlled Burn and Just Keep Walking, gives middle grade readers another realistic fiction filled with so much heart and plenty of other elements that will keep them engaged all the way until......more

Goodreads review by Shari on July 01, 2025

Riveting from the first page! I read this in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down, yet I enjoyed watching the mysteries unfold and the characters grow through each chapter. The island setting is perfect, and I just loved Jax and Avery! I can’t wait to share this with students in the fall (whic......more

Goodreads review by Emily on September 28, 2025

This was my second Erin Soderberg Downing and I'm hooked for life. This was such a well-constructed story about an extended family that is dealing with childhood trauma. I loved the different perspectives, it gave such a vivid picture of this family and what they were going through. Ultimately this a......more

Quotes

Praise for What Happened Then"Get ready for a smart, fun, sharply written, page-turning heart-clencher of a story. I would follow Avery and Jax anywhere. And I will read everything Erin writes." - Natalie Lloyd, bestselling author of Hummingbird and The Witching Wind"A beautiful story of a fractured family finding its way across generational divides to find connection, understanding, and the magic of togetherness. With a twisting mystery, wonderful characters, and an enticing setting, What Happened Then will captivate readers of all kinds." - Ann Braden, critically-acclaimed author of The Benefits of Being an Octopus"A gripping mystery with a big, beating heart at its center, What Happened Then is an expertly crafted family drama that readers of all kinds will by turns find relatable and revelatory. This is middle grade fiction at its very best." - Jarrett Lerner, award-winning author of A Work in ProgressPraise for Just Keep Walking"Nimbly plotted and deftly insightful." ― Kirkus Reviews"If you like my books, then you'll love this one. It's a story filled with adventure and heart." - Dusti Bowling, author of The Canyon's Edge"Outdoor adventure, a believable but not excessive amount of family tension, and a determined middle grade protagonist―these add up to an absorbing read with a satisfying conclusion." - Cathy Carr, author of 365 Days to Alaska"Jo's emotional struggles and humor bring a richness and levity that make this one an enjoyable pageturner." - Afoma Umesi, Reading Middle Grade Blog"A page-turning adventure story of resilence, forgiveness, and finding one's inner strength." - Elly Swartz, author of Hidden Truths"A fun, heartfelt tale of adventure, family, and determination that will make you just keep reading." -- Dan Gemeinhart, award-winning author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote SunrisePraise for Controlled Burn"Sensitively wrought... Soderburg Downing meaningfully explores the healing power of nature and the beauty of connecting with family in this vibrantly detailed adventure." -- Publisher's Weekly"A gorgeous, tender, wonderful book. Controlled Burn is a testament to the power and beauty of everyday moments of bravery, compassion, and love." -- Anne Ursu, author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy"A compelling and moving exploration of the bonds of family, overcoming fears, and the power of friendship." -- Hena Khan, award-winning author of Amina's Voice

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