Why am I passionate about this?
I'm a huge bookworm and have enjoyed writing stories of my own since my elementary school days. During junior high, high school, and college, along with a lot of literature courses, I enrolled in every creative writing class I could find. I loved the stories, poems, and novels dealing with hard subjects the most, which (of course) resulted in me writing my own piles of gritty short stories. Those short stories continue to inspire my writing today. No surprise that the novel Iām currently working on is also based on a dark, gritty story I wrote my freshman year of college. Wish me luck on getting this one published, too!
Kay's book list on gritty YA that explore death, grief, and mourning
Why did Kay love this book?
In A Ring of Endless Light, sixteen-year-old Vicky Austin has to come to terms with death from all directions, starting with the funeral service of Commander Rodney presided over by her grandfather, who is dying of cancer. Watching her grandfather deteriorate over the summer on Seven Bay Island is hard as it is, but itās complicated even more when Vicky has to juggle the romantic interest of three very different guys: Leo, an old friend and Commander Rodneyās son; Zachary, whose attempted suicide caused Commander Rodneyās death; and Adam, her older brotherās friend, who offers her an amazing chance to work with dolphins, something that gives her a break from the constant hard in her life.
I love this emotionally heavy novel, largely due to Madeleine LāEngleās beautiful, descriptive writing. A Ring of Endless Light finds beauty in struggle and sorrow, and even in death. Ms. LāEngleās novels alwaysā¦
1 author picked A Ring of Endless Light as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.
In book four of the award-winning Austin Family Chronicles young adult series from Madeleine LāEngle, author of A Wrinkle in Time, Vicky Austin experiences the difficulties and joys of growing up.
"This wasn't the first time that I'd come close to death, but it was the first time I'd been involved in this part of it, this strange, terrible saying goodbye to someone you've loved."
These are Vicky Austin's thoughts as she stands near Commander Rodney's grave while her grandfather, who himself is dying of cancer, recites the funeral service. Watching his condition deteriorate over that long summer is almostā¦