GLITTER GETS EVERYWHERE

Losing your beloved Mum to cancer has to be one of the worst things in the world to happen to a child, but 10-year-old Kitty finds her own way of coping with this terrible loss.

Kitty lives in the upscale Hampstead borough of London with her older sister, Imogen; her father; and her cat, Cleo. Her beloved Gran is close by, and her godmother provides support, food, and wisdom for the bereft and grieving family. Going back to school is particularly tough, however. Everything reminds Kitty of her mother, and she feels lethargic and dejected. As Gran says, comparing grief to glitter, “If you throw a handful of glitter in the air, even if you try your very best to clean it up, you’ll never get it all. I keep finding glitter tucked into unexpected corners. I suppose it will always be there.” When her father’s work responsibilities bring a chance to spend some time living in New York City, Kitty is resistant. At Dad’s insistence, they go, however, and the family learns the language and customs of this new place. Kitty ultimately comes to realize that memories of her mother are the glitter that will be with her wherever she goes. The heart-rending topic; the well-drawn family relationships; and Kitty’s brave, honest, and often funny responses to her tragedy are the soul of this book. All characters present White.

Heartfelt and comforting.