Questions About Dear Edward

by Ann Napolitano (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (23)

On page 148, Edward says that he will never fly again because the last airplane seat he ever sits in has to be the one beside his brother. But he's already flown since the accident! And that bothered me when it happened! Upon release from the hospital, pg 30, he flies to NJ! How could that little boy board a plane again, so soon after the accident!?

Kristine Edward was airlifted to NJ in a private plane, just over a week after the plane crash. He boarded an ambulance upon arriving in NJ and was taken direc…moreEdward was airlifted to NJ in a private plane, just over a week after the plane crash. He boarded an ambulance upon arriving in NJ and was taken directly to a hospital. My sense was he was still very traumatized from learning his parents and brother were dead and from his injuries. I doubt that plane ride registered much at all in his haze. (less)

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Will this book make me cry my eyes out? It looks really good, but I don't want to cry a ton. Also, I'm a mother with a 12 year old son, and so I may be more sensitive to the book than the average reader.

Lauren Mehler I don't think so. She doesn't play on the emotional heartstrings too much. I love to cry while reading a book, and was honestly a little disappointed …moreI don't think so. She doesn't play on the emotional heartstrings too much. I love to cry while reading a book, and was honestly a little disappointed that I didn't, haha. One might shed a few tears in the last chapter, but overall it's not an emotional read, despite the heavy themes.(less)

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Why didn't the therapist suggest anti-depressants? To not even mention them as a tool for a child who is clearly severely depressed, whether they get used or not, seems like a huge oversight. Why didn't his aunt and uncle try to find a grief group? Another form of therapy? Ever ask if he was missing his parents?

Eileen Sadly, there is as yet no known effective medication to treat traumatic grief. I'm a clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma and grief, and I …moreSadly, there is as yet no known effective medication to treat traumatic grief. I'm a clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma and grief, and I liked Dr. Mike and his gentle but firm approach. His aunt and uncle were wise in insisting that Edward continue, even if he didn't want to and didn't talk much initially. In addition, remember that Edward was only 12, and there are a lot of good reasons for not rushing to prescribe an anti-depressant at his tender age. I loved the way Ms. Napolitano wisely provided a "therapeutic milieu" for Edward in all facets of his new life; that is often crucial to forging a path to healing and resilience. Shay, Edward's principal, his gym teacher/weight-lifting coach, his aunt and uncle, each provided valuable therapeutic assistance in their own intuitive ways, I've been running grief groups for a long time, but traumatic grief groups, especially for young people, have to be done, if at all, with great caution. There is often a danger of contagion to the other kids in the group. In addition, since it's highly unlikely that Edward would have really been able to find a "peer" (someone who had survived his specific kind of horrific loss), he might well have felt even more alone in such a group.. I thought the author's choices were spot-on.(less)

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Jenifer

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What age range is this book appropriate for? Should I order it for my library's middle grade or young adult section, or is it more appropriate for adults?

Allison While the story, characters and language in this book are appropriate for a young adult age group, I think it contains certain topics and life experie…moreWhile the story, characters and language in this book are appropriate for a young adult age group, I think it contains certain topics and life experiences that a younger reader will not understand or be able to relate to.(less)

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Unanswered Questions (1)

I listened on audio but was unable to scroll back for this answer. The Asian girl that Eddie pushed confronted him at school...what did she say to him? She knew he was the crash victim?

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