About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to find the language for the anticipatory grief of a terminal family illness. This raw memoir in verse records Miriam Stone's real-life experience watching her mother succumb to cancer, moving from the initial diagnosis through the final goodbyes. It speaks directly to the profound isolation and the 'heavy transition' of losing a primary caregiver while still trying to navigate the demands of being a student and a daughter. While the subject matter is undeniably heavy, the verse format makes the intense emotions accessible rather than overwhelming. It is appropriate for mature teens who need to see their own feelings of anger, fear, and deep love reflected on the page. Parents may choose this to normalize the messy, non-linear nature of grief and to show their child that they are not alone in the 'end of words.'
