Grief girl by Erin Vincent
Warning – strong emotional content. Do not read this book if you, or a close friend has been recently berieved. I made that mistake, and as a result I found this book shattering.
That is probably because it is a true story. At age 14, Erin Vincent was alone in the family home for the first time. When her parents were late returning, she began to worry. Finally the phone rang, a stranger, ringing at the request of her father. An accident, her mother was dead, her father badly injured, dying before he left hospital. Suddenly the family consisted of Erin, 14, her baby brother, 3, in the care of 18 year old Tracey.
This rivetting story follows Erin through her troubled adolescence, her confusion, her sadness and her joy. Tracey is portrayed through Erin’s eyes, not always positively. The depth of Erin’s grief defies help from counsellors, teachers, or any interested adult. And the extended family does not help. The portrayal of the uncles who controled the children’s finances is ugly.
This is a very powerful book, but an important story beautifully told.
