• Age: 14 to 18
• Grade: 9 to 12

When Ever’s father passes away suddenly, she is devastated. Not long after that, her mom has a stroke and Ever’s anguish becomes almost too much for her to handle. That’s when she gets the idea to form a group she calls Boys and Girls Screaming. Along with her brother, Jericho, and her best friend, Candace, Ever wants to bring together kids from their school who have suffered trauma so they can share their stories and begin to heal.

Although the other teens find solace in the group, Ever tumbles further into depression until she reaches a breaking point. As the group learns the true source of Ever’s pain, they jump into action to help her find a way out.

Boys and Girls Screaming tells the story of a generation of teens finding the support they need to process their trauma in their own ways.

KERN CARTER is a full-time freelance writer and author who has written and self-published two novels — Thoughts of a Fractured Soul (novella) and Beauty Scars. His YA novel Boys and Girls Screaming released in April 2022, published by DCB, an imprint of Cormorant Books. Kern is also a ghostwriter with credits in Forbes, the New York Times, Global Citizen, Elle Magazine and Fatherly.com, and has ghostwritten several books. When he’s not penning novels or ghostwriting, Kern is curating stories through CRY, his online publication that creates space for artists to navigate through the emotions of their creative journey. He lives in downtown Toronto with his daughter.

Kern Carter's profile page

“Through this work, readers learn about the sticky nature of trauma. ... A thought-provoking read about the pain involved in healing childhood trauma.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Carter effectively captures the sometimes-arrogant adolescent voices of his characters, taking readers down the tortured paths of thought that teens often travel. … Boys and Girls Screaming leaves readers ultimately hopeful that connecting and speaking out can help young people begin to deal with trauma.”

CM Magazine

“Kern Carter’s YA novel Boys and Girls Screaming is a thoughtful mix of empathy, entertainment and emotion

CBC Books