Through This Together

by M.E. Tudor

Covid changed how everyone lived and loved.

Seventeen-year-old Natalie Weatherby didn't give the virus in China much thought until the nursing home where her grandmother lives closed to visitors. Shortly after that, businesses closed, and school was attended from home. Like many people, Natalie assumed things would return to normal, but they didn't.

Natalie's grandmother's Alzheimer's worsened, causing her grandmother to reveal a 50-year-old family secret.

The killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protest revealed racism within Natalie's family that she did not expect.

And to complicate her life even more, Natalie develops a crush on her nemesis, Jill Harper, who shows Natalie a kinder and gentler side of her usual combative nature.

The truths revealed during what will become known as the Covid-19 global pandemic will have lasting effects on Natalie and her family. Are they strong enough to get through this together?

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2021

About the author

M.E. Tudor lives in south central Kentucky with her cute dog, Ruby and cat, Chesher. She has an Associates Degree and Bachelor's Degree from Western Kentucky University and works as a librarian. When not working or writing, M.E. loves to travel, camp and hike.

Reviews

[John Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. Pretty full on as it all takes place in the height of Covid and lockdowns, as well as Black Lives Matters in full swing and a grandmother with dementia separated from her loved ones as she nears death. And an unknown aunt (said grandmother's sister) that had been isolated from the family as she came out as gay 50 years before and her family disowned her.

Natalie is an excellent narrator and she discovers a new friendship in lockdown with a girl she always felt was out to get her or at least best her in everything. The friendship looks to becoming much more, but neither Natalie nor Jill have ever been in any relationship previously going into their senior year of high school. A well done story about important issues that are quite recent. 4 stars for me

[Elizabeth Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great YA book that addresses life for students and families during COVID. The characters and plot were well developed. The author addressed issues most teens would have gone through. Highs and lows. Protests. This would be a great book for YA or any age.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story

I will say, I don't usually read stories of high school kids but a friend recommended this story and I'm glad I did read it. The author portrayed the story of families going through the pandemic well. The main family she concentrated on were very real and down to earth. I enjoyed this story immensely. Well done!

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great.

I really enjoyed Through This Together. Yes, it’s about living thru the Covid Pandemic and turbulent political times. Take a deep breath and keep your head on straight. We’ll get through this together.

[Ceh131973 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It is just what I needed and has been added to my LGBTQ classroom library! I think this conveyed so many emotions that we are all going through but couple that with coming to terms with your sexuality. I have read quite a few books by M.E. Tudor and she always gets the emotional feels going. Not all authors can catch YA the way she does though.

[Jessica Lucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Through This Together" by M.E. Tudor is a modern YA novel dealing with topical issues. It would be appropriate for all teens, and would make an excellent addition to a classroom or school library.

Told in first person from the viewpoint of 17 year old Natalie, this is the story of a lesbian in high school dealing with the pandemic, lockdown, the Corona virus, the struggles on online learning, family dynamics, and the death of a loved one. Natalie is also coming to terms with the fact that she is a lesbian, and wondering how she can or if she can come out to her friends and family.

Things get complicate when Natalie finds herself crushing on a former enemy. She wonders if this unlikely relationship will grow, or if the focus of her attraction will dismiss her in disgust.

A coming of age tale in relatable language and subject matters, "Through This Together" is well written and flows easily. It was so good, I even featured it on my vlog for tweens and teens. Well worth the read.

[Doug Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story arc of this YA tale takes the reader through a very difficult year in recent history as experienced by a young woman who is a high-school junior. Dithering and miss-steps by government officials come through in stark terms as online education is extended by a week or two at a time as the infection rates and death toll rise. Things end on a cautiously positive note, but the main characters lives have indelibly changed, and the reader will come away with a vivid reminder of their own experiences.

[Charlotte M McClellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read

This is the first book I have read set in COVID time and Ms. Tudor does an excellent job of bringing back the feelings of that time. The use of first person narration is especially effective for this. There is a very sweet and very slow romance but it isn’t really the focus of the story. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

[Wanda Gall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving...

Such a poignant recount of what many families experienced in our pandemic. I was deeply moved by the families involved in these stories. And hurray for an Indiana author!

[Jimmy Helgeson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, a good look into a weird time. Were some rough bis, but it made me feel and keep reading o see how things would go for the characters in it.