The Last Wish of Sasha Cade

Gr 8 Up—Raquel's worst day is realized when her best friend, Sasha Cade, passes away from cancer. Even though they knew this was going to happen and tried to prepare, Raquel is completely devastated. She tries to go to school and pay attention but struggles to live in the moment and concentrate. When she receives a letter in the mail from Sasha inviting her to visit her grave, Raquel wonders if Sasha has found a way to talk to her from the beyond. Sasha has one last great adventure for Raquel and confides one of her deepest secrets; she's found her biological brother, Elijah. Sasha requests that Raquel follow her clues and share their history with Elijah. While Raquel enjoys her time with Elijah and looks forward to seeing him, she struggles with Sasha's rule to not tell her adoptive parents. Rife with emotion, this whole story is a tearjerker. While Raquel tells this story, the other characters, including both Raquel's and Sasha's parents, are present and distinctive. There are some scenarios that strain credulity, but overall, this is a very easy novel to get drawn into. Give to fans of romance, realistic fiction, and friendship stories.