DEAR GIRL

This Dutch/Belgian import sensitively but directly addresses a grandparent’s dementia.

Cathy’s grandparents own a toy shop. Cathy’s grandpa has been getting more and more forgetful. He leaves his glasses between the dolls on the shelf and doesn’t remember transactions that happened moments before. When Grandpa’s doctor suggests that he see a neurologist, they learn that “Grandpa has an illness which makes it more and more difficult for him to remember things.” Dementia is never named, but Swerts doesn’t shy away from other details. A brain scan is explained, and when Grandpa needs more help, terms such as assisted-living center and health care providers are introduced. Cathy is surprised and confused by Grandpa’s diagnosis, but she is determined to collect Grandpa’s favorite sights, sounds, and smells because she knows it will help later on. Grandpa eventually forgets Cathy’s name but instead affectionately calls her “dear girl.” Van Lindenhuizen’s soft palette shears off sharp edges, giving everything a cozy, comforting glow, just like a memory. No parents are ever depicted, suggesting a grandparent-led family. All characters are White. The backmatter is a puzzling misstep—instead of offering more information on dementia or coping methods for the subject, there is a maze to solve and open-ended questions about the beach. However, this, along with some clunky prose, may be related to the (uncredited) translation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.2-by-19.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 30.8% of actual size.)

Sheds some light on a disease fraught with confusion.