Lolo’s Light

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Lolo’s Light) through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated.

Such a heartbreakingly sad read in so many ways.  Watching a young teen descend into intense sorrow, but then, having the delight in watching her climb out of her depression.  So, Lolo’s Light is a mixed reading for me.  Sadness mixed with hope for a brighter tomorrow.   This is not a happy or easy on the emotions read, but it is not a horrible one either.  🙂 

Lolo’s Light, the highlights

Liz Garton Scanlon picked up her pen to tell us about Millie.  A 12-year-old girl with her first babysitting gig for a child she adores. She gets to take care of Lolo which means listening to her sleep as her parents head out for a date.  This is the before.  The time that happens after is the main part of the story.   The after is sad, and hard, and yet, eventually filled with hope.  Hope that bubbles up quietly. 

Published by Chronicle Books, Lolo’s Light covers 232 pages, making it a shorter book that is easy to cover in the course of one’s lunch break. 🙂  

I am reviewing on behalf of Raincoast Books. 

Looking deeper

Lolo’s Light develops the character of Millie really well. We are walked through her thought process in the before and the after.   I did get an ARC version so I don’t know if the “and the after…” pages will remain this slate grey colour. 

Through Millie we are able to do some research, learn about the importance of caring for eggs, and even why sometimes eggs just die.   I was delighted to see how engaged Millie’s parents were.  Not only were they dealing with their own grief, but needing to help their daughter as well.  

I loved the compassion of Millie’s science teacher. Allowing her to come in early, walking her through the egg experiment, and taking the time to alert Millie’s parents to deeper concerns.  She’s what I would want in every public school teacher. Her compassion came in spades and it was fantastic to see. 

Should you read it?

Lolo’s light has actually been a hard book to review.  I was glad that I read it but sometimes I felt like Millie was so lost and there was no hope. When it particularly got bad I almost walked away but then turned the page to see a glimpse of hope.  These glimpses of hope continued to grow until finally, we had a tangible step forward.  This step forward made the book, but I kinda wish that Liz Scanlon has gotten there just a bit sooner. 

So should you read it?  Yes, if your children need to understand how grief comes in different forms.  Or if they need some help walking through their own grief.