For a child grappling with immense loss, this tender story navigates the raw emotions of grief, offering a compassionate glimpse into a boy's struggle.
A parent would reach for this book when their child is navigating the immediate, raw aftermath of a loved one's death. This profoundly honest story follows a young boy whose mother has died. Overwhelmed by sadness and the fear of forgetting her, he tries to trap her scent in the house and even reopens a cut on his knee to remember her comforting touch. The book validates the complex and sometimes confusing emotions of grief, including anger and withdrawal. For ages 6 to 8, it provides a safe space to explore these difficult feelings, offering a gentle, hopeful path toward healing and remembering that doesn't minimize the pain of loss.
The boy intentionally scratches open a wound on his knee as a way to cope with his grief.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly and unflinchingly with the death of a parent. The approach is secular and psychological, focusing entirely on the child's internal emotional experience. The resolution is hopeful and comforting, suggesting that love continues and memories can be held in new ways. It does not shy away from the raw, sometimes confusing, behaviors of a grieving child, including a form of self-harm.
Ideal Reader
A child aged 6 to 9 who has recently experienced the death of a primary caregiver, particularly a mother. It is especially for the child who is acting out in ways that are hard for adults to understand (anger, withdrawal, physical manifestations of pain) and needs their complex feelings validated.
Parent Prep
Parents should preview the scene where the boy purposefully scratches open the cut on his knee. This act of self-harm, while a poignant metaphor for holding onto pain, might be upsetting or confusing without context. A parent should be prepared to discuss why he does this: he wants a physical reminder of his mother's care. A parent has just told their child about a death, or they see their child withdrawing, acting angry, or seeming "stuck" in their grief. The parent might hear, "I'm going to forget her," or see the child clinging to physical objects associated with the deceased.
Age Experience
A 6-year-old will connect with the simple, direct language and the physical acts of grief (shutting windows, picking the scab). An 8-year-old will grasp more of the nuanced emotional journey, the strained relationship with his father, and the symbolic nature of the grandmother's solution (the "scar" on his heart).
What Makes It Special
Its uniqueness lies in its unflinching honesty about the less sanitized aspects of childhood grief. The physical manifestation of emotional pain (reopening the wound) is a powerful, psychologically astute detail that sets it apart from more gentle or purely metaphorical books on the topic.
Read plot summary
A young boy wakes up to learn his mother has died. He struggles with overwhelming grief, anger, and the fear of forgetting her. He tries to trap her scent in the house, doesn't want to talk to his dad, and reopens a wound on his knee to remember the feeling of her care. His grandmother's visit, initially disruptive because she opens the windows, ultimately provides a new, tangible way for him to feel connected to his mother's love and begin to heal.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The boy was afraid he would forget his mom's smell and her voice. What are some of your favorite things to remember about someone you love?
2
When the boy felt sad and angry, he scratched his knee to remember his mom's comfort. Why do you think he did that? What are some other ways we can feel close to people who are gone?
3
At the end, Grandma tells him his mom put a kiss on his heart that will stay there forever, like a scar. How did that idea seem to help the boy feel better?
4
The boy and his dad didn't talk much at the beginning of the story. Why do you think it was hard for them to talk? Do you think they will talk more now?
