If Nathan Were Here

The little boy has lost his bestfriend and he thinks of all the memories they shared. His class makes a memory box of Nathan putting all the things that they remember him by in it. The little boy doesn't feel the same without his bestfriend by his side. He tries to do things that him and Nathan used to do, but it just isn't right. This was a great book because the little boy is really taking the lost of his bestfriend well. ( )

An excellent book to help children cope with grief. Nathan, a young boy, is dead and his best friend is figuring out how to deal with the grief. The paintings are beautiful and the story is simple. It is wonderful to see how the death of Nathan has affected everyone in the community, so the friend doesn't feel completely isolated in his grief. I liked that way it starts with all of the things that would be happening if Nathan were here, and then moves to what is really happening now that he is gone. It leaves you with a sense of hope at the end when the boy considers letting Nathan's sister up into his treehouse.

Review—

Genre- Realistic Fiction. As the reader I could feel the emotion that the writer was trying to display. This book is about the loss of a fabulous friend and brother. But in the end the boy finds that not only has he lost but he has also gained a friend too. My eyes welled up while reading and I found myself in the midst of the story with the child.

Age Appropriateness- Upper Primary ( )

This is a touching story which I would highly recommend. It deals with and discusses the loss of a child and friend, and would be a great addition to a classroom library.

The story of a boy who has lost his best friend. He is trying to decide how to move on but also what to put into Nathan's Memory box at school. He finally figures it out and he finds something else to, that Nathan's sister isn't all that bad! ( )