Some emotional reads

“But really, anybody could die any day, whether you were ready or not. It could be your pet fish or your sister or you. Nothing is the same forever.” (Love, Aubrey, LaFleur, p. 242)

Well, in the past few days I have read two very different books, both heartwarming and sad on two very real issues, adoption and death. Even though it is summer and both of my kids are home and we are all starting to get on each other’s nerves reading these two books made me grateful for what I do have. Not everyone is this lucky.

The first book, Mother Number Zero by Marjolyn Hof was translated from Dutch. This story is actually based on Hof’s own experience of being adopted. This short book is packed with a tremendous amount of feeling on the issue of adoption. It is a wonderful story for the adopted child who does seek out more information on his/her first mother. Or as the author puts it, “All children come out of a belly and nobody can remember that. What’s the difference- one belly or another?” And so begins the journey of Fejzo in looking for his mother zero, since his first mother is number one in his eyes. The story takes place in the Netherlands, which is the home of Fejzo and his family. But his birth mother was a woman who escaped the war in Bosnia. The story isn’t just about Fejzo but also about his older sister, Bing, who was also adopted but from China. Her story is different in that she can’t find her mother number zero because she was abandoned. We mostly follow Fejzo’s journey to locate his birth mother but the emotions that his sister Bing has also ring true to the reader. This is truly an original story that is both touching and thoughtful. I think it is a great addition to literature on adoption. (Grades 5-8). 

My next read was about the unimaginable, the death of a parent and sister. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur is a remarkable story of love, loss and courage from the point of a view of an 11 year-old girl. Aubrey’s life has been turned upside down by a tragic accident where she loses her father and sister. Unfortunately after the accident Aubrey’s mother becomes emotionally unstable to care for Aubrey so she must move to Vermont to live with her grandmother. Aubrey learns with the help of her grandmother how to express her feelings and thoughts and move on with her life to find happiness.

This is a wonderful story about a young girl who learns about the healing powers of friendship, love and wonderful memories. This is the author’s first story and it is very powerful in that she truly captures the real emotions of a young child who has suffered a terrible loss and learns how to cope to move on with her life. I think we can look forward to many more books by this wonderful author. (Grades 5-8).