Last year, at my school, all teachers in grades 3-6 used this book for their read-alouds during the final quarter of the year. This book was chosen because it deals with a young girl (Mattie) and her twin brother (Matt) who are trying to cope with the loss of their father as well as understand their mother's behaviors while grieving her loss as well. This story is very well written and our students were able to relate personally with these characters and their struggles with peers, parents, and life. ( )

Mattie and her twin brother Matt do all they can to help out their mother; their father recently passed away and the family dynamic has shifted greatly. Mattie does everything she can to try to prove her love for her mother.