An endearing story of love and grief as one girl follows the clues in a scavenger hunt left behind by her best friend, perfect for fans of Bridge to Terabithia and Nine, Ten.
WHEN YOU'VE LOST WHAT MATTERS MOST, HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR WAY BACK HOME?
Joy Fonseca is dreading her 13th birthday, dreading being reminded again about her best friend Lukas's senseless death on this day, one year ago -- and dreading the fact he may have heard what she accidentally blurted to him the night before. Or maybe she's more worried he didn't hear.
Either way, she's decided: she's going to finally open the first clue to their annual birthday scavenger hunt Lukas left for her the morning he died, hoping the rest of the clues are still out there. If they are, they might lead Joy to whatever last words Lukas wrote, and toward understanding how to grab onto the future that is meant to be hers.---from the publisher
208 pages 978-0593119617 Ages 8-12
Keywords: friends, friendship, death and dying, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old
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It's Joy's 13th birthday, but it doesn't feel like a celebration to her; it's also been a year since her best friend, Lukas, died in an accident. Told is alternating viewpoints, we see Lukas planning a birthday scavenger hunt the previous year, and Joy going through the clues a year later. From the pizza restaurant where they ate frequently, to the second hand shop where Lukas' family sold family items to make ends meet, to a park where they had a particularly fun time, we, along with Joy, revisit places that give her fond memories of her friend as she comes to terms with his death. We also get a glimpse into Lukas' life, which was complicated by things like the death of his father, a boyfriend of his mother's who ended up having trouble and left the family, and his brother's behavioral problems. Through it all, we get a good sense of the depth of their friendship, and an inkling that Lukas' nascent romantic feelings would have been returned if he hadn't passed away.
Strengths: This is certainly a lyrical and poignant tale of love and loss. Akin to The Ethan I Was Before , Haydu's, The Someday Suitcase, or Benjamin's The Thing About Jellyfish, this is one of the few books that work through the process of grieving a friend rather than a parent, grapndparent or sibling. It's nice to see the connections that the two had, and the tender regard in which they held each other. There's a bit of action in following the clues, and the story moves along quickly.
Weaknesses: There was a mention early on that Joy's parents had thought she should see a therapist other than the one at school, but she doesn't seem to have. It would have been nice if Joy was seeing someone; she clearly needed more help than she was getting dealing with this trauma.
What I really think: I don't have a lot of students ask for books such as this, but it is a great choice where there is a need for books about the grieving process.
Recommended by : Karen Yinglng, Librarian, Ohio USA
See more of her recommendations: msyinglingreads.blogspot.com
