Catch the light

Marigold (Mary) Sullivan has lost a lot. Her father died of cancer. Her big sister, Hannah, moved away to college. And her mother decided to move Mary and her little sister, Bea, all the way to New York, ripping her away from her best friends Nora and Bennett. Now Mary has to contend with an increasingly absent mother, a withdrawn little sister, and a new school. After she meets Jesse in her AP English class, she falls for him despite still having feelings for Bennett. Soon, she starts keeping secrets from her family and friends and becomes worried as memories of her father begin to fade away. Through it all, Mary and Bea turn to some less-than-healthy coping mechanisms to deal with their pain. The cast of characters is mostly white, except for Nora, who is Korean and white. Though the narrative feels slightly meandering at times, it comes to a satisfying conclusion. Ultimately, Sweeney's novel is a captivating study of the ways grief affects families, friendships, and the very idea of love.

Gr 8 Up--Marigold is lost. After her father dies of cancer, her older sister leaves for college, and her mom moves her and her younger sister across the country to start fresh--everything Marigold once knew to be true is now out of focus. A photographer at heart, Marigold lives her life through photographs, and her memories of her old life seem to be slipping away quicker than she can catch them. She knows what she should be doing, but she can't make herself do any of the things she once thought would be her life's path. The boy she loved feels distant, she can't talk to her best friend anymore--it's easier to just lie than to come clean about how she's really feeling. Her home in California feels more and more like a memory than where she is meant to be. A story about loss, grief, and the memories we keep, this coming-of-age novel deals with the holes that are left behind after the loss of a loved one. The story rings true to how a teenager may cope with the loss of a parent, especially without the help of a professional to deal with the grief and an absentee parent who is struggling with their own grief. Almost all characters are heterosexual, white, and cisgender. VERDICT While the book doesn't offer new revelations on grief and is lacking in diversity, it is a solid addition to a collections needing more titles on grief.--Erica Coonelly

A coming-of-age story about finding oneself in the aftermath of loss. Less than a year after her father's death from cancer, 17-year-old Mary Sullivan faces many changes: Her older sister, Hannah, has left for college; her mother is moving the family from Los Angeles to upstate New York; and they will be living with her recently divorced aunt. Overwhelmed by grief, her mother needs help caring for Mary and her 14-year-old sister, Bea. To Mary, this news feels life-shattering. Her senior year is about to begin, and she is being forced to leave her best friend and boyfriend behind. As Mary tries to accept her new reality, she realizes that she is beginning to lose memories of her dad. At the same time, Bea has her own problems, and Mary feels unable to help her without guidance from Hannah. Then Mary meets Jesse, a boy in her AP English class who shares her love of photography. Soon, all her plans for the future fly out the window. Mary starts leading a double life, founded on lies and omissions--but she's not the only one. The narrative largely remains captivating, and readers will feel sympathy for Mary's and Bea's inner struggles as they cope with grief and change, a process that involves risk-taking and substance abuse. Major characters are White; Mary's best friend in California is Korean and White. An edgy love story in which everyone seems to have a secret to hide. (Romance. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Marigold (Mary) Sullivan has lost a lot. Her father died of cancer. Her big sister, Hannah, moved away to college. And her mother decided to move Mary and her little sister, Bea, all the way to New York, ripping her away from her best friends Nora and Bennett. Now Mary has to contend with an increasingly absent mother, a withdrawn little sister, and a new school. After she meets Jesse in her AP English class, she falls for him despite still having feelings for Bennett. Soon, she starts keeping secrets from her family and friends and becomes worried as memories of her father begin to fade away. Through it all, Mary and Bea turn to some less-than-healthy coping mechanisms to deal with their pain. The cast of characters is mostly white, except for Nora, who is Korean and white. Though the narrative feels slightly meandering at times, it comes to a satisfying conclusion. Ultimately, Sweeney's novel is a captivating study of the ways grief affects families, friendships, and the very idea of love. Grades 8-12. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 8 Up—Marigold is lost. After her father dies of cancer, her older sister leaves for college, and her mom moves her and her younger sister across the country to start fresh—everything Marigold once knew to be true is now out of focus. A photographer at heart, Marigold lives her life through photographs, and her memories of her old life seem to be slipping away quicker than she can catch them. She knows what she should be doing, but she can't make herself do any of the things she once thought would be her life's path. The boy she loved feels distant, she can't talk to her best friend anymore—it's easier to just lie than to come clean about how she's really feeling. Her home in California feels more and more like a memory than where she is meant to be. A story about loss, grief, and the memories we keep, this coming-of-age novel deals with the holes that are left behind after the loss of a loved one. The story rings true to how a teenager may cope with the loss of a parent, especially without the help of a professional to deal with the grief and an absentee parent who is struggling with their own grief. Almost all characters are heterosexual, white, and cisgender. VERDICT While the book doesn't offer new revelations on grief and is lacking in diversity, it is a solid addition to a collections needing more titles on grief.—Erica Coonelly