My listening to this out of all the things on Audible and in my library was such a random chance, quite literally as I actually rolled dice as I wasn't sure what to read next, and I am so very glad that I did. I mistakenly assumed this was going to be a mediocre Audible Original (No shade, there are some bangers), not realising this was a novella from the seventies.

I'm going to try and write more of a review another time, but for now this was a heartfelt, joyous, imperfect, and a little too twee, but lovely story that really spoke the the little sad girl in me. This is a book I would never have read by choice and I would have missed out.

CW: Child Death, Disease. ( )

Story of a young girl (Meg) and her older sister (Molly) that has been diagnosed with leukemia. Told from Meg's point of view, which is one of not really knowing what is going on with Molly so there is a lot of frustration with how everyone is babying Molly, how Molly is grumpy, etc. As the reader, you know something is up though, and when the reality of the situation is finally clear to Meg it is heartbreaking. This book brought tears to my eyes. I would recommend it for more mature 4th and 5th graders on up through adults. I loved this book as a 49 year old so it definitely is for multiple ages. ( )

Hello, ickiest book name ever. I typically love Lowry's books. This one wasn't bad, though I don't know that this tear-jerker would appeal to a teen today. ( )

Although the title makes it sound like a horror story, this book is actually the sad story of the summer Meg's older sister Molly dies of leukaemia.

As an adult reader, Meg is so naive for so long about her sisters illness... but maybe her denial is the point of the story. (It's not the story the book is telling, but I found it hard that her loving and intelligent parents try to shelter her by shutting her out of what is going on.)

The central sad story is surrounded by a sweet host of other characters - Meg's dad (writing his academic book), Meg's mum (simple and sweet and sewing a quilt), Will (their landlord, but a dear friend and mentor to Meg) and Ben and Maria, idealistic home birthers. It is a bit 'babies are the happy ending', but it's very light touch - the real ending is to see and be seen, and know and accept that bad things are going to happen. ( )

Thirteen year old Meg tells the story of the illness and death from leukemia of Molly, her older sister.