In a bittersweet story about honoring a loved one-s memory, 12-year-old Ellie has returned to the United States with her father after living in Paris. They are both adjusting to a new reality without Ellie-s mother, who died of cancer in France. Ellie knows that there is much of her brave, vivacious mother to be found in the children-s stories she left behind-and that bringing her mother-s writing into the world will provide solace. But Ellie is unable to guess the password that will allow access to her mother-s computer-a password that her mother seems to have changed shortly before her death. Aertker-s narrative transitions between the present day and the family-s time in Paris, including Ellie-s mother-s diagnosis, treatments, and death. Through the expansive, well-conveyed flashbacks, Ellie reflects on her family-s painful ordeal and her vividly portrayed mother-s eternal optimism in the face of her illness. While there are tear-jerking moments, Aertker-s novel doesn-t dwell on the family-s sense of loss, instead focusing on Ellie-s crystallized recollections and life-s steady drumbeat forward. Ages 9-12. (BookLife)

Gr 4-6 This book revolves around the rapid demise of Etta Kerr, an unpublished writer of children's books. Etta, her husband, and 12-year-old daughter Ella are living in Paris when they get the devastating news that Etta is dying from ovarian cancer. When Etta dies, Ella spends her time trying to unlock the password to her mother's computer in order to have access to her stories. Her goal is to have her mother's books published posthumously. Unfortunately, too much of the novel focuses on Etta rather than her tween daughter. Many details about Etta's disease and its progression are included, which slows the plot. Even though the setting is Paris, the author provides little atmosphere beyond generic tourist locales and scenes of eating croissants to make the City of Lights come alive. Eventually, Amazon publishes the late Etta's work, providing a too-convenient ending to this slimly plotted novel. VERDICT A mournful ode to a dying mother with little else to offer the intended audience. Lillian Hecker, Town of Pelham Public Library, NY