About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is processing a communal or personal tragedy and needs a gentle, safe way to explore the feelings of fear and silence that follow. It is an ideal resource for navigating the delicate aftermath of violence through a lens of empathy rather than graphic detail. Twelve-year-old Leah spends her summer in Chicago with her young cousin TJ, who has stopped speaking after surviving a school shooting. Together, they create a club to find lost objects, which becomes a beautiful metaphor for finding their own voices and a sense of safety. The story is deeply compassionate and realistic, suitable for middle grade readers (ages 8 to 12) who are ready to discuss heavy topics within a supportive, hopeful framework. Parents will appreciate how it models the 'helper' role and validates the slow, non-linear nature of healing.
