SOLVED. YA book. Girl goes to a "witch" in a swamp (in Florida?) to get a cure for her dying mother who's coming home for hospice care. Read around 2015. Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Carolyn]

The main character is a girl (13-ish) who I want to say lives in Florida, maybe? She likes to go out in a little boat along a river that's right at the back of her house. The story begins with her mother coming home for hospice care, and everyone knows that she's dying.

She didn't really get along with her mother, but she wants to help her get better, and she hears about a supposed "witch" who lives in the swamp and can give her a cure. The "witch" gives her a recipe, but it's not for a magic potion. The girl has to write down a list of good memories she has about her mother, and when she finishes it, her mother will get better.

The girl doesn't quite believe it, but she gives it a try, and the book is about her coming to realize that even though she doesn't have much in common with her mother, she still loves her. The ending is left open-ended about whether there was a supernatural cure or not.

Weirdly, the only character whose name I can remember is her cousin, whose name is Thibault (or something like that). I read it sometime around 2015, but I have no idea when it was written.

[Becca]

Are you still looking for this, Carolyn? I've been searching but had no luck so far - it sounds really lovely.

This comment will 'bump' your post to the front page where more people will see it, though, and hopefully someone will recognise it. You can bump it by adding a comment every 30 days if you want to.

[Carolyn]

Yes, I'm still looking! I feel like as soon as I hear the title, I'll know it right away, but I can't think of it for the life of me DX

[Sara]

Not exactly right, but Swamplandia! is set in Florida and has magic and a dying mother.

[Carolyn]

Nah, that's not it. Alligators don't really factor into it.

I just remembered that the main character's mother is an artist. She has a shed or something where she keeps all of her paintings and art supplies. The main character doesn't like going in there, but I remember a scene where she ventures in, I think towards the end.

[Rainbowheart]

Might want to check the YA Set In Florida list.

[Paige]

The Healing Spell

Edited to add discussion guide that may also help with recognition:
http://scholastic.ca/kids/discussiong...

[Carolyn]

This is it! I immediately recognized the cover and everything! Thanks! :)

[Paige]

Yay! Glad I could help you find your book.