
Reach for this book when your teen is grappling with the shadow of a sibling or struggling with the pressure to be perfect in the eyes of their family or community. This intense mystery follows Callie as she navigates the sudden death of her sister, Tess, who many believe was a literal saint capable of miracles. As Callie investigates a local kidnapping and unearths family secrets, the story explores the heavy burdens of grief, the complexity of faith, and the necessity of finding one's own voice. It is a sophisticated, emotionally raw choice for older teens (14 and up) that validates the feeling of being the invisible or imperfect child while offering a realistic look at how we deify those we lose.
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Sign in to write a reviewInvolves a kidnapping plot and some moments of physical tension.
Explores the lies told to protect a loved one's reputation.
The book deals directly with the death of a sibling and the resulting grief. The approach is realistic and deeply psychological, set against a backdrop of Catholic tradition and folk-sainthood. The resolution is realistic and bittersweet: it doesn't offer easy answers about faith or the afterlife, but provides closure regarding the sister's human identity.
A high schooler who feels overlooked or compared to a high-achieving sibling. This is for the teen who likes their mysteries with a heavy dose of emotional realism and isn't afraid to question religious or social institutions.
Parents should be aware of the depictions of religious obsession and the intensity of the kidnapping subplot. It is best read cold by the teen, but parents should be ready to discuss the difference between a person's public image and their private reality. A parent might notice their child withdrawing after a family loss or expressing anger about how a deceased relative is being remembered. The child might say: It feels like I have to be her now.
Younger teens (14) will likely focus on the mystery and the sisterly bond, while older teens (17-18) will better appreciate the nuanced critiques of religious pressure and the search for an identity separate from family legacy.
Unlike many grief novels, this uses the framework of a thriller and the concept of modern-day sainthood to explore how we project our own needs onto the people we love.
After the sudden death of her sister Tess, sixteen-year-old Callie is surrounded by people who believe Tess was a saint. When a local girl is kidnapped and rumors swirl that Tess had a connection to the crime, Callie teams up with her sister's former boyfriend to uncover the truth about Tess's life and the secrets her family has been hiding.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.