Some of the Parts

A parent might reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to move forward after the sudden loss of a sibling or loved one. It is especially suited for those moments when a child feels that their grief is a puzzle they cannot solve, or when they are obsessed with 'holding on' to the physical remnants of the person they lost. The story follows Tallie, a teen who discovers that her late brother was an organ donor and sets out on a journey to track down the recipients of his parts. While the premise involves the clinical reality of organ donation, the core of the book is a deeply emotional exploration of how we define a person once they are gone. It deals with heavy themes of loneliness and the search for closure in a way that is profoundly honest for the 14 to 18 age group. It provides a bridge for parents to discuss the complexity of memory and the reality that a person is more than the sum of their physical attributes.