Sweeping Up the Heart

A parent should reach for this book when their child is navigating the quiet, lingering fog of grief or feeling emotionally disconnected from a parent who is also hurting. It is a tender resource for families where a loss occurred years ago but the emotional weight remains heavy and unspoken in the household. The story follows Amelia, a seventh-grader who lost her mother as a toddler and lives with her distant, scholarly father. When a mysterious boy enters her life during spring break, she begins to unearth secrets about her past and her mother. It is a quiet, realistic exploration of identity and the way art can help us process what we cannot say. Ideal for children ages 8 to 12, this book provides a safe space to discuss the complexities of single-parent dynamics and the longing for a lost loved one.