February in 1921 Whitaker, Saskatchewan, is colder and bleaker than usual as 13-year-old Lucy May Barber mourns her mother's sudden death. Unable to foresee life without Mama, Lucy decides it's up to her to hold the family together.
But that turns out to be easier said than done, and it isn't long before everything starts going wrong. Papa hires a meddling housekeeper; five-year-old Teddy starts forgetting Mama; 15-year-old Tom gets involved with bootleggers; and Papa buries himself in his work, leaving the children to fend for themselves. In addition, Papa blames their favourite uncle for Mama's death and banishes him from their home.
Lucy fears all is lost, until another tragedy forces her to confront her grief in a different way. Feb. in 1921 Sask. 13-year-old Lucy mother's dies. She has to hold the family together but it's hard "Details about farm life, domestic routines, and Prohibition firmly establish the rural historical setting, while Lucy's emotional struggles will resonate with a contemporary audience … Lucy is equal parts fragile and fierce as she tries to deal with her grief, and her misguided attempts to keep life from changing are both understandable and heartbreaking. Ultimately, the knowledge that she isn't alone in her experience helps Lucy move forward. The cast presents white.
"A warm and insightful exploration into the nature of grief and healing." "This is a heartwarming story about life, loss and grief, friendship, love, and hope.
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5" February in 1921 Whitaker, Saskatchewan, is colder and bleaker than usual as 13-year-old Lucy May Barber mourns her mother's sudden death. Unable to foresee life without Mama, Lucy decides it's up to her to hold the family together.
But that turns out to be easier said than done, and it isn't long before everything starts going wrong. Papa hires a meddling housekeeper; five-year-old Teddy starts forgetting Mama; 15-year-old Tom gets involved with bootleggers; and Papa buries himself in his work, leaving the children to fend for themselves. In addition, Papa blames their favourite uncle for Mama's death and banishes him from their home.
Lucy fears all is lost, until another tragedy forces her to confront her grief in a different way.
