Geranium Morning

Two friends who lose parents, one suddenly in an accident and one by illness, learn to deal with their grief

Grade 1-3 --A sensitive story on a difficult subject. Although his father is disappointed, Timothy pretends he is too tired to go along on their annual outing to buy geraniums. On his return from the nursery, Timothy's father is in a fatal car accident. Now the boy must deal with the ultimate loss and guilt he feels for staying home. As he and his mother struggle to cope, their emotions are in chaos. A chance meeting with Frannie, a new girl at school, brings Timothy the lifeline of friendship he needs to accept his feelings and the loss of his father. She also needs a friend; her mother is dying, and Frannie feels isolated from the happy children around her. Together, they come to terms with death, sharing a special understanding that sustains and heals. Few titles examine the loss of a parent, particularly for younger readers. This one gently probes the myriad feelings associated with grief, and looks at the value of the shared experience as the root of recovery. It may persuade a child who has lost a parent to accept solace from other children, or even from a local support group. Graef's pencil drawings are somber but tenderly styled. --Virginia E. Jeschelnig, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH
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