Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Following Divorce Is the Worst, this second installment in the Ordinary Terrible Things series acknowledges that despite the aphoristic things adults might say to soften the impact of death, it won't necessarily help. In collages assembled on brown paper, Higginbotham introduces a boy whose grandmother has died. There are images that may be familiar to readers (flowers, a coffin, a hearse), along with well-intentioned but confusing condolences. "Now your gramma can watch over you wherever you are!" reads one, as the horrified boy imagines a spirit swirling overhead as he guzzles whipped cream straight from the can. It's that exact mix of true-to-life humor and unflinching honesty that makes Higginbotham's book work so well, and many of the plainspoken sentiments she includes ("Dying is not a punishment.... You might be freaked out by the grief of those you depend on"), as well as several included ideas for how to remember and honor those who have departed, may be eye-opening for readers facing grief themselves. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-This exploration of death and grieving begins with a boy mourning the loss of his grandma and his bold observation that "When a loved one dies/people can say some/.stupid things"-referring to the platitudes offered to him (e.g., "Just be grateful for the time you had with her."). Through mixed-media collage, speech bubbles, and simple text, Higginbotham explores a child's experience of loss: "Dying is not a punishment. But it mostly doesn't feel fair." The bold collages, set against a plain brown background, visually reinforce the child's disoriented swirl of emotion. A few of the images are unclear or ambiguous, but the boy's grief and responses are kidlike and recognizable. Readers follow along as he contemplates the reactions of his family members, imagines having a conversation with Gramma, and continues to feel her absence in his life. Eventually, he shares cherished memories with his father, and they work together in Gramma's garden. The author recommends activities that may help ("keep someone and, at the same time, let them go"), such as reading the same books that they enjoyed. She also offers suggestions for dealing with the death of a pet. VERDICT Clearly written to validate and respect a child's feelings, this book is a useful resource for parenting collections or patrons looking for a relatable exploration of death.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
When a loved one dies / people can say some... / ...stupid things" (e.g., "Don't cry"). Omniscient narration follows a boy negotiating the period following his grandmother's death. Higginbotham's tone in rebuking the disingenuous approach to the subject of death ("Beware of the lies") may not be for everyone; blunt collage art further repudiates a warm-and-fuzzy stance. Activities for coping with loss are appended. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Observations, advice, comfort, and ways of thinking about one of life's "ordinary terrible things." Higginbotham follows up Divorce Is the Worst (2015) with a dark-skinned child at Gramma's wake and funeral. People say, "I know exactly how you feel," "She's in a better place," and like platitudes, and the child reacts with hurt anger: "Would I be in a better place if I died?!!" Exchanges continue as the child gets home afterward, changes clothes, imagines talking with Gramma once again, asks those hard questions ("Why do we have to die?"), then follows Dad outside to stand in, and tend to, Gramma's garden. The collage illustrations, constructed on squares of brown-paper bag with patchwork pieces of cut photos and cloth, have a somber look that brightens when corners and angles of flower and vegetable garden appear. The author's own neatly printed background comments get a little metaphysical, but in general they are spot-onin validating the child's response to the aforementioned platitudes, in leaving room for individual beliefs about an afterlife, and in suggesting ways to ease the immediate sense of loss. A closing set of simple memorial activities will also be helpful, though some readers may find the references in that section (and, obliquely, earlier) to the death of a pet jarring in this context. "We don't get to keep everyone we love who has ever lived. But we do get to remember them": so true. (Picture book. 6-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
