Grief Girl

April 2, 2007
Writing in an unadorned, journalistic style, Australian writer Vincent recounts the three painful years of her adolescence following the death of both of her parents in an accident. Sandwiched between her older sister Tracy, who is named guardian of the other children, and her much younger brother, Trent, whose memory of his mother and father gradually fades, Erin quietly mourns her loss. At the same time, she struggles with a slew of new, very adult problems: trying to make ends meet and dealing with the resentful attitude of her sister, who is overwhelmed by responsibilities. As the days, months and years go by, Erin's grief surfaces in different ways. She goes through a religious phase (attending church regularly) but eventually gives up on God. At one point, she begins wearing her father's old shirt and a pair of baggy pants to school in place of the traditional uniform. After reading The Bell Jar
, she identifies with Sylvia Plath and wonders if she might be better off in an asylum. Her intimate, honest narrative captures both Erin's strength and vulnerability. Rather than trying to answer questions about how to deal with loss, the author expresses the nature of grief, stressing that quick fixes simply do not exist, and there is no predictable sequence to the grieving process. Ages 14-up.

February 1, 2007
Gr 9 Up-At age 14, Vincent lost both parents in a traffic accident. This is a gripping memoir of the aftermath of their deaths. Although her loss took place more than 20 years ago in Australia, her use of the present tense and a wholly authentic adolescent voice lend her retelling palpable immediacy. Gritty language, a swift pace, and glimpses of humor amid tragedy make this a page-turner. The author captivatingly portrays her journey through the stages of grief, which she aptly points out take place in no discernible order. Perhaps most poignant is the heartbreaking post-funeral abandonment of her and her siblings by adult friends and relatives. Teens will sympathize with her 18-year-old sister's anger at the crushing responsibility of parenting her younger siblings. At the same time, the author's own feelings of rejection, abandonment, and self-blame will resonate with many readers. Recommend this book to those who have experienced loss, or want to understand what a friend might be going through, as well as to teens looking for an absorbing read."Rebecca M. Jones, Fort Myers-Lee County Library, FL"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2007
In 1983, Vincent, then 14, lost both her parents in a road accident. In this poignant memoir, she chronicles her rocky journey through adolescence as she, her 17-year-old sister, Tracy, and their brother, Trent, learn to cope on their own. Life isn't easy for the Australian orphans: their grandparents threaten to take custody of three-year-old Trent; family friends relieve them of several pieces of furniture "for safekeeping," then refuse to return them; and the executor of their parents' will won't release any of the money held in trust, even for medical issues. Still, Vincent manages to graduate high school and pass a journalism test that wins her a newspaper job, while Tracy marries her boyfriend and moves to a new home with Trent. Vincent's use of the present tense makes the story more immediate, and although her prose is unremarkable, it aptly approximates her teenage self. Any adolescent going through the grieving process will tearfully embrace her book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)