When the World Was Happy

A tale of twins and their group of friends who are forced to navigate life, relationships, and grief after their world is turned upside down, from New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Twins CheChe and Emma know they lead an unusual life. They enjoy spending time with their parents and grandparents, love to read, and don’t have a huge circle of friends – and they’re happy.

Then, just a few months after they turn seventeen, three gunmen show up one morning at their high school in El Paso, Texas, and everything changes. CheChe loses a leg, and both he and Emma have friends who die. Suddenly, the world feels like a very different place.

CheChe finds himself doing all kinds of things he never expected – relearning to walk, falling in love with the boy he’s had a longtime crush on, making friends with a kid he always found intimidating.

By the end of this life-changing school year, none of them will be the same. And many of them will have found their voices in ways they never imagined . . .



PRAISE FOR WHEN THE WORLD WAS HAPPY

“A heartrending yet beautiful story about how through tragedy and sorrow it is possible to grow, heal, and find your voice in unimaginable ways.” – School Library Journal

“A wrenching examination of grief, trauma, and survival in the wake of gun violence.” – Publishers Weekly

“Sáenz’s signature, strong-voiced style in this slow, introspective, and ultimately powerful story – where character takes precedence over plot—aptly addresses frustration at America’s relationship with guns.” – Booklist

“A lyrical novel about an unforgettable family maintaining their humanity in the aftermath of tragedy.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Contemplative . . . heartbreaking.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)

“A wrenching examination of grief, trauma, and survival in the wake of gun violence.” – Publishers Weekly