Getting Near to Baby

A Southern charmer for fans of Newbery Honor book Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage Audrey Couloumbis’s masterful debut novel brings to mind Karen Hesse,Katherine Patersonand Betsy Byars’s The Summer of the SwansΓÇöit is a story you will never forget. Willa Jo and Little Sister are up on the roof at Aunt PattyΓÇÖs house. Willa Jo went up to watch the sunriseand Little Sister followedlike she always does. But by mid-morningthey are still up on that roofand soon itΓÇÖs clear it wasnΓÇÖt just the sunrise that brought them there. The trouble iscoming down would mean theyΓÇÖd have to explainand they just canΓÇÖt find the words. This is a funnysometimes heartbreakingstory about sistersabout griefand about healing. Two girls must come to terms with the death of their baby sistertheir motherΓÇÖs unshakable depressionand the ridiculously controlling aunt who takes them in and means well but just doesnΓÇÖt understand children. Willa Jo has to try and make things right in their new homebut she and Aunt Patty keep butting heads. Until the morning the two girls climb up to the roof of her house. Aunt Patty tries everything she can think of to get them downbut in the endthe solution is miraculously simple. A Newbery Honor Book An ALA Notable Book A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year