All the Blues in the Sky

Sage's best friend dies on her thirteenth birthday and she tells the story of her grief through verse in this novel. It doesn't sound like the premise of a page-turner, but I read it all in one sitting and enjoyed it.

 

Sage is likeable and relatable, flawed and genuine, poetic and deep. Though my experiences with grief have been different from Sage's, I think the book acknowledges and explores that very truth in depth so I could still connect with her. 

When Sage gets her first kiss just weeks after her friend dies, it reminded me of deciding to get married a month after I lost my mom. I told some friends at dinner about my engagement and my friend's husband was super skeptical. He cautioned me about making such an important decision while my grief for my mom was still fresh. Instead of being annoyed, I tried to appreciate that he was making sure I was thinking rationally (but in truth I was still a bit annoyed). Happy and sad and annoyed can all co-exist.

Recommendation: Sure! It's a super quick read and probably would be a great resource for any adolescent or adult at any stage of grief.