A deeply moving exploration of grief…
In Paruzel-Gibson’s poignant debut, a young girl struggles with the loss of her mother. Yearning to find the happiness after losing her mother, Ella sets on a journey, looking for it in all the places her grieving heart leads her. With the passage of time, Ella learns to find comfort in warm memories of her mother. Paruzel-Gibson’s tender narrative guides Ella through her quest of finding happiness. The text contains examples of many ways little Ella tries to come to terms with the loss of her mother. While Paruzel-Gibson conveys it’s not easy to endure grief, through Ella’s voyage to find happiness, she celebrates both the healing power of time and the ability of human heart to brave the most indescribable grief. Ella’s story not only entertains and educates but also delivers the message of empathy and wisdom, emphasizing the importance of childhood memories. The narrative is enlivened by Catrinella’s beautiful illustrations that expertly depict Ella’s wide range of emotions. A stirring debut!