Love, Aubrey

by Suzanne LaFleur

𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧

𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.

SYNOPSIS

After the tragic accident that takes the lives of her father & younger sister, Aubrey’s mother walks straight out of Aubrey’s life one early morning, without an explanation nor return. Left on her own, eleven-year-old Aubrey survives the days with endless television, cheese & crackers for every meal, and a pet fish as her only company — right until her grandmother arrives on the doorsteps & takes her into her arms.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨,

𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙.

REVIEW

I literally cried myself to death when I first read this book—I also happened to be eleven back then. I couldn’t imagine the pain or loss that Aubrey was going through — losing her father & sister, only to have her mother walk out of her life as well — I hurt for her in every way possible. Now years after, while rereading this book, I surprised myself as to how different the messages I got from the story were. It wasn’t merely about the grief & anguish following the tragic events anymore, but how Aubrey slowly fixed herself along the sides of her friends & family.

I especially appreciated how supportive & understanding the grownups were. They didn’t simply expect her to snap out of her sorrow & be normal, instead they gave her time & patience, slowly pushing her forward as she healed. I also loved the letters Aubrey continuously wrote to her sister’s imaginary friend, gradually moving on to her father & sister, then finally her mother. It still was a heartbreaking process, but a warm & beautiful tale as well, one that I’d always recommend.