Harris Olson is a boy dealing with a load of guilt until a crow comes tapping at his window one morning. Harris Olson is a boy dealing with a load of guilt. Three years ago he was in a tragic car accident with his parents. He can't shake off the feeling of being responsible, though of course he was not. The memory returns from time to time -- until a crow comes tapping at his window one morning. A crow whom he lets into the house without intending to, a crow who somehow manages to cheer up not only Harris, but a lot of other people he cares about.
In this moving story, Beverley Brenna expertly demonstrates that sadness isn't something that needs to stay with you, that positive experiences can repair the tough things that occur in life. When Harris opens his window for the crow, he also opens himself up to a gradual healing and in the process learns how others also can overcome the dark feelings that often drag them down. Harris Olson is a boy dealing with a load of guilt. Three years ago he was in a tragic car accident with his parents. He can't shake off the feeling of being responsible, though of course he was not. The memory returns from time to time -- until a crow comes tapping at his window one morning. A crow whom he lets into the house without intending to, a crow who somehow manages to cheer up not only Harris, but a lot of other people he cares about.
In this moving story, Beverley Brenna expertly demonstrates that sadness isn't something that needs to stay with you, that positive experiences can repair the tough things that occur in life. When Harris opens his window for the crow, he also opens himself up to a gradual healing and in the process learns how others also can overcome the dark feelings that often drag them down. "Author Beverley Brenna has written a rich, complex story that will help youngsters discover important things about themselves and those around them. The writing is beautiful, the story compelling, and the characters fully developed and engaging. It's short, sweet, and a real winner." "There are lots of thought-provoking issues addressed in Because of That Crow: grief, bird biology, family relationships, guilt, death, science projects, research, dementia, animal care, responsibility, memory, empathy, and the afterlife. At the end of the book in the "Interview with Bev Brenna", the writer addresses the fundamental message of this novel, "I think kids need to know that sadness is part of the human experience. Through the complicated lives of characters we read about, we can all learn vicariously about resilience and hope."
