Readers, ages 10 and up, including adults, will be moved by Isabelle Day’s journey from a grieving eighth grader to a young adult refusing to wallow in misery and sadness. Isabelle and her mother moved from a brick three-story house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to a stucco duplex in Minneapolis, Minnesota after her father died. Landladies and sisters Miss Flora and Miss Dora live in the other half of the duplex and are exceptionally attentive to Isabelle. At times, Isabelle believes they are too attentive. Gradually, with time, Isabelle understands others have also suffered immense losses and they still move forward. Isabelle, slowly moves beyond overwhelming sorrow to life with sad memories, but also with promise. The setting may be in the 1960’s, but the themes of loss, healing, sorrow, friendship, family, and hope are applicable in the 21st century.

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