The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole

A parent would reach for this book when their child is struggling to process the death of a loved one and seems to be suppressing their heavy emotions rather than expressing them. This story follows young Stella, who discovers a black hole following her home and decides to use it as a cosmic trash can for everything that reminds her of her late father. It is a brilliant, science-fiction-infused exploration of how we try to 'dispose' of our grief only to find that it eventually consumes the things we love most. While the premise is whimsical and funny, it provides a safe, metaphorical space for children ages 8 to 12 to discuss the weight of loss and the importance of memory. Parents will appreciate how it balances laugh-out-loud moments with a profoundly moving lesson on how to carry sadness without letting it swallow your world.