WISHING SEASON, by Anica Mrose Rissi, Quill Tree Books, June 27, 2023, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)
Wishing Season, by Anica Mrose Rissi, explores a girl’s grief and the bond between twins following the death of the girl’s brother.
Of course, Anders wasn’t lonely in the afterlife. He still, like always, had Lily.
Lily doesn’t believe in making wishes. Not anymore. Not since Anders died.
Wishes can’t fix the terrible thing that happened. Wishing won’t change how it feels.
But Lily does believe in the impossible. She has a secret so extraordinary, so magical, no one would believe that it’s true.
No one except Anders, of course.
Nothing about this summer is turning out how Lily would have wished. But wishes, like seasons, can change. —Synopsis provided by Quill Tree Books
Wishing Season is one of those books that at first may seem a bit niche, but actually will appeal to a fairly wide audience. That’s because it’s not just about twins — author Anica Mrose Rissi explores multiple relationships throughout her novel. And it’s those relationships and how those relationships help Lily move through her grief that make this book so strong.
For Lily, losing her brother is like losing a part of her body. Anders has always been there. It’s always been the two of them. And when he dies, Lily doesn’t know what to do. But then, Anders isn’t really gone. At least, not for Lily. And that makes all the difference. Until it doesn’t.
Rissi’s multi-layered approach to exploring grief and its many stages creates a narrative that feels true. There’s a sort of “rightness” to Lily’s actions and reactions that weights the book. But there’s also a brightness that lightens such a heavy topic.
Wishing Season is a contemplative read that moves fairly quick and will particularly resonate with readers who have experienced some kind of loss of their own.
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