Review Detail

Unique twist on a tale of lost and acceptance. I loved the premise of a teen writing letters to famous dead individuals that reminded her of her dead sister. Dellaira breathes life into each of these letters by giving readers a glimpse into the world of Laurel who navigates through high school and tragic loss.

Laurel starts off as a reserved teen at the beginning of the school year trying to survive without her beloved sister May. Her family has fallen apart with her mother living in California and Laurel being shuffled to her father and Aunt's house. She attends another high school in hopes that no one knew her sister. On the first day, her English teacher assigns the class to write a letter to someone they admire. Laurel choses Kurt Cobain because her sister loved his music. Once Laurel starts writing, she finds herself opening up about her pain and loss and writes to other dead celebs throughout the year.

Each letter peels back the armour of Laurel, who shows us pain, grief, love, and even acceptance. Her choices of dead individuals she writes to show us who May was to Laurel. Her sister was beautiful, free, and very creative. Laurel misses this May and each letter is her way of coming to terms with not only the death but her own pain and anger.

The cast of characters reminded me so much of Perks of A Wallflower told in an amazing voice. There's many painful reveals like how Sky, the guy Laurel 'falls' for, might in fact had a past with her sister. The truth on who May really was. Also the realization that most people that she admired, including her sister, hadn't won their battles but lost with their deaths.

Powerful and at times haunting, this story will tug at you.