Matylda, Bright & Tender by Holly McGhee

This book is about coping.  Sussy and Guy are best friends.  He's always been there for her and they even share a pet leopard gecko.  Life is good, they have fun goofing off and they have great parents.  But then the impossible happens.

Candlewick Press shared an ARC of this book with me for review (thank you).  It will be published March 14th.

On the way to the pet store to get some food for their gecko, an Airedale comes running after Sussy.  Guy comes to her rescue, shooing off the dog.  The problem was no one saw the car coming...

This story is about the grief process, nightmares, stealing, trying to find what's lost and then coming to terms with the fact that since you can't change it, you must accept it.  She tries to love the gecko enough to make up for losing Guy but even the gecko misses him.

This book isn't funny but it does have humorous moments in it.  It's about dealing with loss and trying to go on alone.  Sussy learns a lot in this book and we do, too.