MISSING VIOLET

When their best friend dies unexpectedly from illness, a young child learns to grieve.

The young narrator’s best friend, Violet, is “an expert at spreading sunshine.” But Violet suddenly becomes sick and misses school; soon the narrator receives the news of Violet’s death. Swemba thoughtfully depicts the protagonist’s reaction: “My heart pinched. My insides ached. I felt a swirl of feelings all at once.” The waves of emotion that the child experiences are illustrated in vibrant colors: Confusion is represented by orange tones, anger is red as the child seethes at classmates’ ongoing connections with their own best friends, and sadness is blue, seen when the narrator visits a counselor. To process these big feelings, the child asks for assistance—first from Mom, to help craft a memory box, and then from fellow students. Together, the grieving children say “goodbye to [their] friend” by writing notes to Violet and blowing bubbles in the schoolyard in a gentle mourning ritual. With its hopeful ending and tender examples of emotional processing, this picture book offers young readers an age-appropriate view of grief. Backmatter includes a note for adults encouraging honesty, patience, and helpful activities. The protagonist is tan-skinned with a brown bob, while Violet has brown skin and long, dark hair and appears to be part of a multiracial family. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sensitive, feelings-centered story about bereavement from a child’s perspective.