SNAP

Desperate to create some order in her world, Eddie makes lists obsessively and wears a rainbow of rubber bands on her wrists to remind her of the important things in life. With each snap of one of the bands, the pain helps her to chew her food, laugh out loud, and remain brave even when she is fearful. Unfortunately, when she learns that her best friend’s grandmother is terminally ill, she’s forced to realize that life and death refuse to be so tidy. With a strength that she didn’t know she possessed, Eddie gives up her rubber bands to help her friend cope with her loss in a move that allows both girls to come to terms with their grief. Ripe with imagery and symbolism, this tale investigates how true friendship gives two girls something to cling to in difficult times. Skilled writing and a fresh voice give this common theme a new life. (Fiction. 9-12)