After a tragic accident leaves 11-year-old Aubrey on her own, she goes to Vermont to live with her grandmother and starts dealing with her grief by writing letters.

Aubrey's voice feels very real and it shines through the page, creating a very realistic portrayal of a young girl dealing with her grief. Even with the support of family and friends, it's a long journey for Aubrey. I'd recommend this one to fans of the orphan/foster care ilk. ( )

It took me a couple of days to read this book because I kept crying. After my first crying spell I knew I would not be able to read this book while I was at school. This is the story of a young girl who loses her father and younger sister in a car crash. She and her mother survive. She is left with a scar. She wakes up one morning and hears her mother’s car leaving. She tells herself that her mother is just going for a drive to clear her head. Her mother doesn’t return. After several days her grandmother shows up and takes her back to Vermont while they try to locate her mother. This was a fabulous story of survivor’s guilt, and learning to cope with the death of those you love. This is a book that is beneficial to any age. I am always talking to my students about making connections. This reminded me of my cousins who lost her grandson in a terrible accident. She, her new husband, middle and older son survived. Her baby died. The back of the van was wrapped around the older son and the middle child walked around the house for days unable to sleep. His grandmother had to take him in. Eventually the husband left the mother because he felt she should be over the grief after a month. Everyone deals with death differently. I felt sorry for Aubrey, her mother and grandmother. I felt their pain.
This is a definite for my shelves and a must read for my friends and students. ( )

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Aubrey Priestly has eaten the last of the cheese and crackers and finished the juice in the refrigerator. There is nothing left to eat so she takes the birthday money Gram sent and heads to the store. She knows she can buy groceries and take care of herself, but she's worried about what might happen if someone finds out she is eleven and living alone.

Tragedy struck and took Aubrey's sister and father, and now her mother has been gone for days. Aubrey thought it was best to ignore the constantly ringing telephone since she had no idea what to tell any caller that might ask to speak to her mother. However, one afternoon she just couldn't ignore the repeated ringing of the doorbell. When she opened the door, she found Gram standing on the porch.

What follows is Aubrey's concerned grandmother bustling about asking questions about how long she's been alone and then giving instructions about what to pack since Gram is taking Aubrey back with her. They ride the train from Virginia to the familiar old house in Vermont. Used to visits only on holidays, it seems strange to be moving in with Gram, but it's a relief to have someone taking care of her again.

Aubrey gradually opens up to her grandmother as the two of them work to adjust to the tremendous changes in their lives. But even with Gram's loving care, a new best friend living right next door, and a helpful counselor at her new school, Aubrey finds the most relief when she writes letters to the loved ones now missing from her life.

LOVE, AUBREY is the first novel by Suzanne LaFleur. The story is filled with emotion. The heart-wrenching sadness Aubrey experiences as old memories begin to surface are sure to bring tears to the eyes of even the most jaded reader. LaFleur shows Aubrey dealing with grief and loss as she struggles to understand her feelings and the confusing choices made by her grieving mother.

This is a powerful story about love, loss, and healing that goes far beyond its targeted middle grade audience. ( )

Very powerful book! Be suer to have a box of tissues handy. ( )