Special thanks to the author, @bloomsburybooksus #BloomsburyCreatorCircle for gifted copy & @librofm for my gifted ALC.

I don’t know how many times I have to say it but Renee Watson don’t miss‼️ I don’t care what she writes it always gives 5 stars to me. Sis could make a coloring book and I swear it would still be a 5 star experience. 

This middle grade book was nothing short of amazing. Written with a mix of prose and free verse we journey alongside Sage as she deals with the loss of her bestfriend and learns to heal, grow, and forgive herself. Losing someone close to you is never easy and Sage learns firsthand from a counseling group that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. It was hard for Sage to cope with her emotions because she blamed herself for what happened to her friend. Keeping everything bottled up eventually she explodes then realizes letting it out was what she needed to do to heal. 

Nobody can prepare you for what happens after you lose someone. I know firsthand how it feels losing my mom at 16. It’s something that breaks inside of you and you don’t know if anything will ever be able to fix it. You tend to question everything like why them? Or why now? I even participated in a counseling group same as Sage and hated every moment of it because I didn’t wanna talk about it but it was what I needed to do. 

I really enjoyed this and felt the author perfectly captured the different stages we go through when dealing with grief. I understood and could relate to Sage’s pain and anger so maybe that’s why I loved it so much. But I think this book is perfect for any young adult dealing with the loss of someone.