
Reach for this book when your child feels like their world has become quiet and lonely following a family separation. It addresses the specific emotional isolation a child feels when every member of the family is grieving a divorce in their own way. Twig, the protagonist, watches as her mother retreats into a fog of sadness and her brother shuts down with anger, leaving her feeling invisible. Jean Van Leeuwen captures the delicate process of finding one's footing again. While the story centers on Twig's loneliness, it is ultimately a book about the small, hopeful steps toward a new normal. Ideal for children ages 8 to 12, it provides a gentle mirror for their own confusion and a map for how a family begins to talk to one another again after a major upheaval.
The book deals directly and realistically with divorce and parental depression. It is a secular approach that focuses on the emotional fallout rather than legalities. The resolution is realistic: the parents do not get back together, but the family finds a stable, functional rhythm.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewAn elementary or middle school student who feels 'lost in the shuffle' of a family crisis. It is perfect for the child who is trying to be 'the good kid' while their parents or siblings are outwardly struggling.
Parents should be prepared for the depiction of the mother's lethargy and sadness, which may be difficult for a child to read if they are currently experiencing it. It is best read alongside the child to facilitate check-ins. A parent might see their child withdrawing or notice their child trying to 'fix' the parent's sadness. This book is a response to the moment a parent realizes their own grief has made them temporarily unavailable to their child.
Younger readers (8-9) will focus on Twig's loneliness and her desire for things to go back to how they were. Older readers (10-12) will better grasp the nuance of the mother's depression and the brother's lashing out.
Unlike many divorce books that focus on the conflict between parents, this book focuses on the internal atmospheric shift of the home and the specific feeling of being alone even when your family is in the next room.
Twig is a young girl struggling to navigate the aftermath of her father leaving the family home. As her mother falls into a deep depression and her older brother, Jeremy, becomes distant and angry, Twig feels like she is losing everyone at once. The story follows her as she attempts to bridge the emotional gaps in her household, eventually finding solace and a way forward through gardening and small moments of reconnection.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.