Here is what happens when your mother dies.
It’s the brightest day of summer and it’s dark outside. It’s dark in your house, dark in your room, and dark in your heart. You feel like the darkness is going to split you apart. That’s how it feels for Tiger. It’s always been Tiger and her mother against the world. Then, on a day like any other, Tiger’s mother dies. And now it’s Tiger, alone. Here is how you learn to make friends with the dark. How to Make Friends with the Dark recounts, in unminced words, the process of grieving. I've read (and reviewed) a lot of books about death, but none of them got to me the way this one did. I am fortunate. I have little experience with death-grief. Being inside Tiger's head turned me inside-out, emotionally. I am still reeling. The summary states the catalyst for the events of the book, but essentially, Tiger had no other family except for her mother. She winds up in foster care, where she meets many kids with a variety of stories, as well as adults--helpful and unhelpful. I appreciated Glasgow's consideration of how in the system, there are both good and bad experiences. Some made a genuine effort to help Tiger, and others didn't. I know it's not officially part of the book, but Glasgow's author's note at the end was particularly thoughtful. I digress. What I liked most was how imperfect Tiger's grief was. First-person perspective contributed so much to this, because in combination with Glasgow's writing, Tiger was SO REAL. Her emotions were tangible, and I cried no less than four times. We didn't know her mom (June) for very long, but Tiger's love for her was evident, and thus her sorrow and confusion and anger and sadness were all the more weighted. We spend so much time inside Tiger's head, but also get to experience her relationships with multiple secondary characters, all of whom I liked. One in particular I can't say anything about, but her mere existence shocked me. In the end, despite multiple mishaps, I'm glad her story of recovery was included in the novel. I think Tiger's relationship with her helped establish Tiger's story as unique, and not just the generic story of a girl whose mother passed away. Overall, Tiger's powerful story earns 5/5 stars from me. I was blown away by this book, and I 100% recommend it.
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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