An intimate exploration of grief and loss, this novel drew me in from the beginning and kept me interested throughout. Young Sally Holt is enamored of her older sister Kathy, particularly Kathy's obsession with Billy Barnes, a local boy. After a horrible accident takes Kathy from her, Sally must deal with grief and the normal struggles of coming-of-age. This intimate story explores Sally's specific grief and common themes of loss. The forever connection she shares with Billy is a strong storyline, too.

Sally is a fully fleshed out character who comes to life within the pages. I loved how this novel explores loss, but also presents it as a very specific experience to this one girl. At first I felt that Sally's romance with Billy was a little too convenient, but Espach did a wonderful job rooting it in reality and the connection of shared trauma. At times the parental characters seemed like caricatures, but that might have been because Sally was so distinctly drawn. This one kept me thinking about it long after I was done reading. An immersive, engaging book!