
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the profound 'why' questions that often follow a loss or a period of spiritual searching. Madeleine L'Engle, beloved author of A Wrinkle in Time, offers a collection of stories that act as a bridge between the seen and unseen worlds. These narratives provide a comforting, thoughtful space for pre-teens to explore themes of grief, the afterlife, and the enduring nature of love through a lens of gentle Christian mysticism. It is an ideal choice for the sensitive middle-schooler who feels things deeply and is beginning to look for meaning beyond the literal surface of life. The stories normalize the feeling of being different or lonely while offering a hopeful perspective on our connection to the universe.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThe book deals directly with death and the afterlife. The approach is distinctly religious (Episcopalian/Christian) but lean toward the mystical rather than the dogmatic. The resolution of these stories is consistently hopeful and comforting, suggesting that those we love never truly leave us.
A 12-year-old child who is naturally introspective and perhaps feeling 'different' from their peers. This is for the student who enjoys quiet walks and big thoughts, or a child who is mourning a grandparent and needs to feel that their connection to that person hasn't vanished.
These stories can be read cold, but parents should be aware that the Christian framework is central. It is not 'preachy,' but it assumes a spiritual reality. No specific scenes are graphic or disturbing. A parent might notice their child staring out the window, asking 'where do people go when they die?', or expressing a fear that they don't fit in with their more literal-minded friends.
Younger readers (10) will enjoy the ghost-story elements and the sense of mystery. Older readers (13-14) will better grasp the metaphors for faith and the complex nuances of family legacy.
Unlike many books about grief that focus on the clinical process of 'moving on,' L'Engle focuses on the thinness of the veil and the idea that we are part of a much larger, magical, and loving cosmos.
This collection contains short stories that blend realistic fiction with elements of the supernatural and spiritual. The narratives focus on young protagonists dealing with the death of grandparents, the feeling of being an outsider in their families, and moments of 'second sight' where the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds thins.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.