Missing Violet

by Kelly Swemba, Fabiana Faiallo (Illustrator)

Overview

Life is full of sunshine for inseparable friends Violet and Mia. Until one day, Violet leaves school sick and doesn't get better. Without her best friend, Mia slips into a gloomy existence. As she moves through the stages of grief like the colors of a rainbow, Mia wonders if she will ever feel like herself again. When Mia reaches out to her classmates, she remembers what she loved most about Violet.

A sensitive and poignant story about the loss of a friend and experiencing the different stages of grief.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506483313
Publisher:	Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
Publication date:	01/31/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kelly Swemba has been passionate about big feelings since she was little. She holds a master's degree in psychiatric nursing and has also worked as a preschool intervention aide for children with autism. She's a member of SCBWI, 12x12, and Children's Book Insider. Kelly lives with her family in Columbus, Ohio.

Fabiana Faiallo is a freelance illustrator who has done work for children's magazines, textbooks, and children's books. She was born and raised in Brazil, and still lives there today.

Editorial Reviews

"With its hopeful ending and tender examples of emotional processing, this picture book offers young readers an age-appropriate view of grief. . . . A sensitive, feelings-centered story about bereavement from a child's perspective." —Kirkus

From the Publisher

2022-12-24
When their best friend dies unexpectedly from illness, a young child learns to grieve.

The young narrator’s best friend, Violet, is “an expert at spreading sunshine.” But Violet suddenly becomes sick and misses school; soon the narrator receives the news of Violet’s death. Swemba thoughtfully depicts the protagonist’s reaction: “My heart pinched. My insides ached. I felt a swirl of feelings all at once.” The waves of emotion that the child experiences are illustrated in vibrant colors: Confusion is represented by orange tones, anger is red as the child seethes at classmates’ ongoing connections with their own best friends, and sadness is blue, seen when the narrator visits a counselor. To process these big feelings, the child asks for assistance—first from Mom, to help craft a memory box, and then from fellow students. Together, the grieving children say “goodbye to [their] friend” by writing notes to Violet and blowing bubbles in the schoolyard in a gentle mourning ritual. With its hopeful ending and tender examples of emotional processing, this picture book offers young readers an age-appropriate view of grief. Backmatter includes a note for adults encouraging honesty, patience, and helpful activities. The protagonist is tan-skinned with a brown bob, while Violet has brown skin and long, dark hair and appears to be part of a multiracial family. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sensitive, feelings-centered story about bereavement from a child’s perspective. (further reading) (Picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Reviews