A parent might reach for this book when their child is grappling with the recent death of a parent or another close family member. It offers a gentle and quiet space to explore profound sadness. The story follows twelve-year-old Horatio, who is numb with grief after his father's death from lung cancer. He spends the summer with his grandfather, O.P., who is also mourning the loss of his beloved dog, Mollie. By treating both sorrows with equal respect, the book validates a child's feelings and shows how shared experience, even across generations and different types of loss, can be a powerful source of healing. It's a poignant, realistic story for ages 8 to 12 that champions empathy and the slow, personal journey of finding hope again.
The book deals directly with the death of a parent from a terminal illness (lung cancer). The approach is secular and realistic, focusing on the emotional aftermath rather than the event itself. It portrays grief as a quiet, internal, and sometimes confusing process. The resolution is hopeful but grounded in reality. It suggests that sadness lessens and joy can return, but the loss is not forgotten. The parallel grief for a pet is handled with immense sensitivity and is key to the book's message.
Ideal Reader
A child, aged 9 to 12, who has recently lost a parent, grandparent, or even a cherished pet, and feels isolated or misunderstood in their grief. It is particularly well-suited for a more introspective child who may have difficulty verbalizing their feelings and would benefit from seeing a model of quiet companionship and healing.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold as it is very gentle. However, a parent should be prepared for the directness of the topic: a father is dead from cancer. There are no graphic scenes, but the emotional weight is present from the first page. A parent might want to preview the quiet tone to ensure it's a fit for their child's personality. The parallel grief plotline (parent vs. pet) could be a useful starting point for conversation if the primary loss feels too painful to discuss at first. A parent has recently lost their spouse or partner and sees their child becoming withdrawn, irritable, or unable to connect. The child might seem to be bottling up their feelings or says things that suggest they feel alone in their sadness. The parent is looking for a gentle, indirect way to open a conversation about loss and shared sorrow.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will connect with the simple, powerful emotions of sadness and the comfort Horatio finds in his grandfather's company and the new puppy. An older reader (10-12) will better appreciate the nuanced themes, such as the philosophical idea that all sorrow is valid, the complexity of intergenerational relationships, and the symbolism of continuing life's journey after a devastating loss.
What Makes It Special
What makes this book unique is its profound and respectful equation of grief over a human with grief over a pet. This parallelism is a powerful tool for validation, allowing the characters (and the reader) to access and discuss feelings about loss through a slightly less direct lens. The focus on a quiet, supportive relationship between a boy and his grandfather is another key strength, offering a gentle model of male emotional connection.
Read plot summary
Twelve-year-old Horatio is reeling from the recent death of his father from lung cancer. To help him and his mother cope, he spends the summer with his paternal grandfather, O.P. Horatio is quiet and withdrawn, while O.P. is openly grieving the death of his old dog, Mollie. The story follows their parallel grief journeys. Through shared activities like fishing and simple conversations, they find a way to support one another. O.P. validates Horatio's pain by treating his own grief for his dog as a real and deep sorrow, allowing Horatio to see that grief comes in many forms. The story culminates in the arrival of a new puppy, signaling a step toward healing and the continuation of life.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
O.P. tells Horatio that missing a father and missing a dog are 'two different sorrows, but they're both sorrows.' What do you think he means by that, and why might it be helpful for Horatio to hear?
2
Horatio and O.P. don't always talk about their feelings directly, but they find ways to comfort each other through actions like fishing. What are some other ways they show they care without using words?
3
Why do you think Horatio resisted the idea of getting a new puppy at first? What changes his mind?
4
At the end of the book, Horatio decides to name the new puppy after himself. What do you think this choice means for Horatio and his journey with grief?
