04 Feb Review: Lolo’s Light
Lolo’s Light
by Liz Garton Scanlon
Chronicle Books, 2022
ISBN: 9781797212944 (hardcover)
$25.99 CAD (hardcover)
232 pages
Ages: 10 years and up
Review by K. Joan Harrison
This middle grade novel is an honest portrayal of one child’s journey through grief. Millie, the main character, is 12 years old and excited to be given the responsibility of babysitting for their neighbour. When the baby dies suddenly overnight through nobody’s fault, the path that Millie takes in dealing with the situation and all of its raw emotions (and more subtle side effects) is portrayed realistically, but handled delicately. Using Millie’s perspective throughout, the author is able to delve deep into the grieving mind of a young person, describing how it affects her family, friendships, and schoolwork. The portrayal of counseling is also realistic, showing initial reluctance, developing into hesitant acceptance. Highly recommended for all readers, 12 years old and up.