Gr 5—8—Meredith's best friend has just died and Meredith is lost. Anjali was her anchor in the stormy sea of being a tween, having crushes, and dealing with bullies. She simply cannot fathom a life without Anjali or a day without speaking to her, so she begins writing letters to her. It is Meredith's way of keeping the connection to her best friend alive, because without Anjali, who is she? Through the course of her grief, Meredith begins to learn things about herself and her friend that put their relationship in a new light. Taking on a tough and little-explored subject, Haber skillfully handles the child's heartache, her loneliness, and the conflicting desires of wanting to continue on with her life but not wanting to forget Anjali. By placing the story between the keys of Meredith's dad's old typewriter, the author gives the narrative a believable realism (complete with a 12-year-old's typos). The format allows an intimate look at the inner workings of the girl's grief and the self-deprecating view she has on her friendship with Anjali. With such an interesting protagonist, it is slightly disappointing that it is Noah Spivak, Meredith's crush, who becomes the catalyst for change and not Meredith herself. The plot is slightly predictable, but the realistic, not-too-tidy ending brings truth to this novel, underscoring that life is complicated.—Naphtali L. Faris, Saint Louis Public Library, MO
When her best friend, Anjali, dies, twelve-year-old Meredith vows to write to her every day. Through these letters, Meredith keeps her friend's memory alive and works through her own grief. When she discovers a secret Anjali had been keeping, Meredith reevaluates their whole friendship. Though there's some melodrama, the story features intensely real emotions and well-conceived characterizations.
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