
Reach for this book when your child is facing the terminal illness of a beloved elder or struggling with feelings of resentment toward an absent parent. Etta May has been raised by her grandfather, but as his health fails, the mother who left her years ago suddenly returns. It is a poignant exploration of what it means to say goodbye while simultaneously learning how to let someone new back into your heart. Written for the upper elementary and middle school years, this story provides a safe space to discuss the heavy weights of grief and the messy, non-linear process of forgiveness. Parents will find it a helpful tool for validating a child's right to feel angry at a parent while also showing the healing power of family bonds and the natural cycles of life.
Deals with the terminal illness and death of a primary caregiver.
The book deals directly and realistically with terminal illness and death. It is a secular approach focused on the natural cycle of life and the legacy of love. The resolution is bittersweet and realistic: the grandfather dies, and while the relationship with the mother is not perfectly fixed, there is a hopeful opening for reconciliation.
A 10 to 12 year old child who is experiencing the 'sandwich' of family transitions: perhaps caring for a sick grandparent while navigating a complicated or changing relationship with a parent. It is for the child who feels things deeply and appreciates stories set in nature.
Parents should be prepared for the grandfather's death near the end. It is handled gently but honestly. No specific scenes need prior censoring, but reading along is recommended to support the child through the grief. A parent might choose this after hearing their child express intense anger about an absent family member, or after a child asks difficult questions about what happens when a grandparent gets very sick.
Younger readers (age 8-9) will focus on the sadness of the grandfather being sick. Older readers (11-12) will better grasp the nuance of Etta May's complex anger and the difficulty of forgiving her mother.
Unlike many books that focus solely on grief, Summer Song intertwines the ending of one relationship with the forced beginning of another, capturing the chaotic reality of family life.
Etta May lives a quiet life on a farm with her grandfather, who is her whole world. When his health begins to decline due to terminal illness, Etta May must grapple with the impending loss. The situation is complicated by the return of her estranged mother, who abandoned her as an infant. Etta May must navigate her deep resentment toward her mother while providing comfort to her grandfather in his final days.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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