This sensitive look at suicide makes a tough topic accessible . Though it's a beautiful spring day, Luna is feeling anything but happy. It has been a year since her mother committed suicide, and her family is having a picnic in remembrance. When Luna's father remarks that her mother's hat suits Luna and that she looks just like her mom, Luna becomes angry ("I am not like Mum. Because I wouldn't just stop living when I wanted to! People you love don't get to stop living and leave you behind!"). Her father explains that Mum didn't want to leave but felt that she had no other choice. Most importantly, he reassures Luna that it wasn't her fault and that it wasn't Mum's fault, either. After reminiscing about a funny event that happened with Luna's mom, Luna, her father, and her younger brother watch the sun set and Luna puts the red hat back on.

This very heavy topic is covered extremely well. While the text is emotionally charged, it's always age appropriate. Dramatic, expressionistic illustrations depict Luna's turmoil: an image of the girl standing with her head hanging against a dark background conveys her sadness, while a picture of Luna riding a violent wave against a red backdrop demonstrates her rage. A special guide for parents at the end discusses how children understand death, suggests how to inform a child about suicide, and provides examples of questions kids might have. VERDICT This book will aid caregivers in explaining a difficult topic and help children with the grieving process.