First published 2011
Vela climbs onto the roof with her younger sister in the early morning hours at their aunt Patti's house. Both girls carry the weight of losing their youngest sister, a death that has shattered their entire family. The younger sister has stopped speaking altogether, leaving their mother exhausted and their household in chaos. Aunt Patti brings the girls to her home during their holiday, hoping to give their mother time to recover and help the family heal. But Patti quickly discovers that caring for two traumatized children proves harder than expected. The girls resist her efforts, creating tension and conflict that leaves Patti feeling angry and defeated. Uncle Hooper steps in with his patient, gentle approach, working carefully to ease the friction between his wife and the two grieving sisters. His tactful interventions begin to soften the atmosphere in the house, offering hope that this fractured family might find a way forward together.
Genres: literary-fiction, grief, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, grief
Setting: Aunt Patti's House
199 pages · Paperback · Newbuds Press
Content warnings: mental-illness