Mary Anne and the Memory Garden

Reach for this book when your child is processing the sudden, shocking loss of a classmate or contemporary. It is a vital tool for navigating the specific grief that comes when someone young dies unexpectedly, leaving a community of peers searching for answers. The story follows Mary Anne Spier as she mourns her friend Amelia, who was killed by a drunk driver. It explores the heavy lifting of grief: from the initial numbness and funeral rituals to the eventual desire to honor a memory through action. Written for the 8 to 12 age range, it provides a realistic, secular roadmap for how children can support one another through tragedy. Parents will find it helpful for validating a child's complex feelings of unfairness and sadness while offering a hopeful path toward healing through the creation of a memorial garden.