About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing a long-term separation from a loved one, whether due to military deployment, work travel, or family changes. It provides a gentle space to process the 'stretching' of time and the quiet anxiety that hums in the background of daily life when someone is away. The story follows a young girl during the year her father serves as a doctor in Vietnam, focusing on the small rhythms of home life and the emotional resilience of those who stay behind. Written in accessible verse, it is ideal for elementary-aged children who may find longer novels overwhelming. It validates the feeling that a year can feel like 'almost forever' while emphasizing the strength found in sibling bonds and parental support. You might choose this to open a conversation about waiting, worry, and the ways families stay connected across great distances.
