Grief Girl by Erin Vincent

In the style of a personal journal that reads like a novel, Erin Vincent recounts her emotional experiences as a fourteen-year-old girl, who has just lost both parents within a month of each other. One car accident leaves Erin, her older teenaged sister Tracy, and her toddler-age brother Trent alone. Tracy is awarded guardianship over her siblings, and the broken family must try to find a way support themselves, deal with their emotional pain, and continue living their lives. In present tense, Erin tells of her desolation and isolation – she is constantly reminded that she doesn’t have it as bad as her sister who has the burden of being the caregiver, and that she is also luckier than Trent who will barely remember his parents. She tells of day-to-day frustrations, of disappointment in self and family, and of guilt and fear. However, this memoir also includes loving neighbors, unfailing friends, and the value of perseverance in education, relationships, and faith. While there is a lot of grief packed into this memoir, there is movement towards accepting grief as well, making it sure to touch many who can relate to an extraordinary loss.

Call number: YA 155.9 VINCENT