Litch offers a middle-grade novel about a young boy confronting a bully, dealing with grief, and surviving a near-death experience.

Eleven-year-old Michael Morton is small for his age, and he endures the frequent cruelty of school bully Brad. At the same time, Michael is mourning the loss of his mother and grandfather. He finds solace beneath an ancient willow, which he calls “Weeper”; he sees the tree as his friend and a peaceful place to practice drawing superheroes. One day, he ventures too far out on one of Weeper’s branches, which snaps, sending him crashing to the ground. As Michael hovers between life and death, he experiences profound spiritual visions and feelings of love, peace and serenity. He sees his late mother, who imparts life-changing wisdom—“Pain doesn’t always wear the same face…. Sometimes the ones who hurt us are hurting too”—and knowledge about the troubled home life of someone he knows. Michael recovers with support from his neighbor Dr. Tanaka, his Aunt Diane, his father, and his friends Monica Thompson and Danny Rogers. Guided by his mom’s words, Michael resolves to “[look] for the good in everyone,” which reshapes his perspective on life. When Michael faces the difficulty of choosing a dog at the shelter, he turns to an unlikely figure for advice, sowing the seeds of friendship. By sixth grade, Michael understands that compassion can heal even the deepest wounds. Over the course of this novel, Litch’s writing is sincere and thoughtful, confronting painful subjects head-on. The story has a spiritual tone without being overtly religious and feels uplifting while maintaining a sense of realism. This beautifully crafted book is about recognizing each person’s “superpower” and appreciating their uniqueness. It also ably explores the concept of coming to terms with loss while preserving the departed’s spiritual presence, which may comfort many readers.

An emotional tale of a young person’s journey from heartbreak to hope.