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What Members Thought

Dolores
Mar 11, 2016 rated it really liked it
This was a heartwarming story. A story of a family in the throes of a terrible grief and how a young girl learns to deal with the grief and the loss and begins to come out on the other side with the help of a special neighbor.
Linnea Hendrickson
Jun 21, 2009 rated it it was ok
Nicely written, but I felt the plot dragged and the incidents were repetitious, Annie's fears of illnesses and accidents, and the girls' plotting to get into the "haunted house." I liked parts of it, such as the tea parties with Mrs. Finch, and the inclusion of Charlotte's Web, which, however, I thought could have been handled a little better -- I wanted Annie to get involved in the book earlier, such as at the point where Wilbur says, "I don't want to die." I was disappointed with this book. ...more
Debbie Tanner
I loved this book about Annie who is 11, starting summer vacation and trying to figure out how to make it fun without her brother Jared, who died earlier in the year. Nothing is the way it was and Annie is trying to protect herself from every ailment known to mankind. A new neighbor moves in and has some ideas how they can help each other get through the hard times.
Malissa
Apr 23, 2010 rated it really liked it
Shelves: fiction-kids
This was a sweet book about a young girl whose brother died. She becomes very cautious because she is afraid she will die. Through the help of other people around her she is able to begin to live life again. The umbrella metaphor is very nice. This would be a great book to read in conjunction with Charlotte's Web. ...more
Melissa
Oct 03, 2011 rated it really liked it
Shelves: 2011-read
I read this on the recommendation of one of my 5th grade students, and I'm glad I did! It was such a cute story. It did make me tear up a little, but I couldn't put it down. I'm glad my student had me read it! ...more
Beth Robertson
Jun 10, 2015 rated it it was amazing
It was a sweet book that I read after Lost in the Sun. Annie is a mournful sister with great friends who help her enjoy life after the death of her brother.
The Styling Librarian
Dec 22, 2011 rated it really liked it
Shelves: kids-books
Loved but so tired from children recovering for loss of loved ones... Great character, loved the celebration of life.
Becky
Jun 08, 2016 rated it really liked it
A heartwarming story of overcoming loss. Could be great paired with summer lost
Teresa Garrett
Jul 29, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Annie's family has suffered a devastating loss in the death of her brother Jared. Each family member has closed themselves off to each other and Annie is fearful for her own life. She is consumed by safety and is absorbed with medical books. A new neighbor offers her some new perspectives. ...more
Karen Arendt
Mar 04, 2011 rated it really liked it
amazon. A sad yet uplifting story about a girl named Annie whose brother, Jared, died a few months ago. She is having trouble dealing with his death, as are her parents. Annie refuses to do anything she considers dangerous, even if she had in the past. A new neighbor moves in and shows Annie how to deal with her grief by closing her umbrella. When Annie manages to cope, she needs to get her parents to learn to cope, too.
Kristen
May 28, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Loved it!
Lisa
Jul 28, 2009 marked it as to-read
Jessica
Sep 21, 2009 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: realistic
Christina
Jan 17, 2010 marked it as to-read
Beth
Jun 16, 2010 marked it as middle-grade-to-read
Kelly
Jul 04, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Leesa
Feb 28, 2012 rated it really liked it
Sharon
Jan 08, 2013 rated it really liked it
Kathy
Apr 11, 2013 marked it as to-read
Shelves: juvenile
Marnie
Apr 23, 2014 rated it really liked it
Aimee
Apr 23, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Gresham
Apr 27, 2015 marked it as to-read
Joshua Whiting
Jun 07, 2015 marked it as to-read
Sallie
Nov 02, 2015 rated it liked it
Tracey
Apr 12, 2018 added it
Shelves: read-in-2018
Julie
Nov 28, 2019 marked it as to-read