About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their teenager is stuck in the heavy, silent stage of grief and feels like they are living in a different world than everyone else. It is a profound choice for a child who has lost a parent or is witnessing a father figure retreat into his own sorrow, leaving the child to navigate life and younger siblings alone. The story follows Jack, a boy who discovers a portal to the Greylands, a literal manifestation of depression where color and sound are drained away. Through this haunting allegory, Isobelle Carmody validates the numbness of loss while gently showing that the path back to the world of the living requires acknowledging both the pain and the beauty we left behind. It is a sophisticated, secular exploration of mourning best suited for mature middle schoolers and young teens who appreciate atmospheric, psychological fantasy.
