Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Love Letters to the Dead is about a girl named Laurel.  She is starting grade 9 at a new high school out of her district so that she won't know anyone and won't have to talk about her sister, May's, recent death.  Her mom couldn't cope with May's death so she skipped town and went to California.  Laurel divides her time between living with her Dad and her Aunt Amy.  Life isn't easy for Laurel.  She has a lot to deal with.  When her English teacher gives an assignment to write a letter to a dead person the novel Love Letters to the Dead is formed.

Laurel writes letters to all kinds of dead people such as Kurt Cobain, Amelia Earhart and Janis Joplin.  The letters tell Laurel's story and become therapeutic for her.  The novel is beautifully written but it is very sad and parts of it were hard to read.  Definitely not a book I will be getting for my school but would be appropriate for high school.

Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

On the eve of her daughter's wedding June suddenly loses all her family.  She is left completely numb and a shell of her former self.  Without any thought she heads out of town on a road trip to an unknown destination.  On her travels she contemplates her relationships with all those she has lost.  Although, June has lost the most, there are others that have lost as well and are grieving.  Everyone in town is talking and spreading rumors.  What caused the tragedy?  Who caused the tragedy?  Other than the town gossips no one seems to have the emotional strength to question how it happened.

Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg is a beautiful story of love, loss, grief and healing.  It's also about the decisions you make in life and then living with the consequences.