Told through letters from twelve-year-old Evie to her sister Cilla, this story chronicles a year of the sisters’ separation. Their strict Catholic parents sent away Cilla when she got pregnant and refuse to speak of her. Meanwhile, Evie is coming to terms with her own attraction to another girl at school. I had a really hard time with how terrible the parents were about the situation; it honestly felt like the story was taking place in the past with their outdated reaction to a teenage pregnancy. The end redeemed it a little for me, though it was still pretty outdated.

I did not read the synopsis of this book before beginning it - that cover just drew me in.
I gave this book two stars. It felt like the book was set in the 50s rather than in modern times, largely due to the parental relationships and their actions. While I know that a child's sexual orientation would likely be frowned upon by a Catholic family, I just didn't really feel that their behaviors were authentic to today. I also really struggled to believe that with modern technology and communication methods, that the sisters would be completely cut off.
Epistolaries are one of my favorite formats to read and I salute the author for undertaking telling this story in this format.

Beautiful "coming of age" story told in letters written by the main character to her older sister. I love books written like this, or in a diary format, it makes them feel so personal.

This book was so beautiful, sweet, heart-breaking, and healing all at the same time. This feels like it could be a really important book for a lot of kids as they deal with big changes in their lives and the questions they have because of those changes. Evie was one of the best narrators I've had the fortune to meet in a long, long time and I loved her journey throughout the whole book. I love how much she grew and how brave she became and how, despite everything that happened, she was still this loving, sweet, wonderful kid. I loved how Evie learned to deal with the many issues she faced, and most importantly, how to love and accept herself despite her fear. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of kids who need it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait for more books by Petro-Roy.

I will be purchasing this title for my middle school library. A poignant and touching story with a smart and funny main character.

Evie's sister has been sent away. Their family are very conservative Catholics and Cillia is pregnant. After months of fighting Cillia is going to move in with an aunt until the baby is born, give up the baby for adoption, and then go to a Catholic School.
Evie doesn't want Cillia to stay away and writes letters to her almost everyday. This is Evie's way of processing what happened to Cillia as well as process what is happening in her own life - question about God, religion, truth, and her own sexuality.
But Cillia doesn't write back - or at least not often - 3 times in fact and every time she tells Evie to forget her and forget the baby. But Evie can't forget and can't let go so after almost a year she decides to take matters in her own hands and travel to the Catholic School to see her sister.
What she discovers there is life changing (no spoilers)!
So, I have been reading this book on my iPad while on the elliptical. I have also been reading Ive Aberdeen's Letter to the World. Wow, so similar - like seriously did the authors talk to each, share ideas? Both deal with middle grade girls exploring their sexuality and worried about what others will think, but even more startling is the fact that both have main characters (the crush in both) named June. I was really not enjoying the book til almost the end. I didn't like the letter writing technique, especially when the sister never responded. Honestly it got old for me. Of course when some things are finally revealed, the letters as therapy finally made a bit more sense. I also had some issue with the negative religious themes. I found it hard to believe that a family would be so condemning to send a daughter away (and more) in this day and age. Maybe the 50s and 60s and I can understand that a deeply religious family would have issues with both Cillia and Evie's choices but it seemed a bit much. Maybe I am out of touch on this and there are pockets where this still occurs.
In the end I will be comparing this to Ivy Aberdeen because they are so similar... stay tuned.

I admit that I was first attracted to this book because of the cover; when I saw the tour announcement in my email, I had to take a closer look at this cover! As soon as I started reading, I knew it was the perfect illustration to represent the letters Evie writes to her sister, Cilla. I was also interested in reading this because the summary promised two themes I love to read about: the bond between sisters and the process we all go through to figure out who we are as individuals separate from our parents, families, and friends. The book delivered on both of these themes, and I absolutely love it!

Evie is the star of this book, as we hear her voice, in letters she writes to her sister, for probably 97% of the book. Her personality virtually leaps off the pages, from her witty notes about what happened at school or church, to her pain and sadness at the sudden hole in her life that her sister once occupied, to her sometimes angry questions about and challenges to her Catholic faith, to her heartwarming maybe-crush on her new friend, June. This is the type of book that can have you laughing out loud, nodding your head and thinking “exactly!”, and tearing up all in the span of one page. There were so many times I wanted nothing more than to hug Evie and tell her, “You matter. You are special, you are loved, and God could never hate you.”

I am so glad I read this book, and even more glad the author wrote it and that it found a home at Feiwel & Friends! It’s the kind of book that rather quietly presents itself, but whose effects can truly be life-changing. Imagine being a 12-year-old who has been raised in the church but finds himself pushing at the strictures of faith and questioning God, and finding this book in his school library. Imagine being a tween girl who comes to the realization that, actually, she *doesn’t* think the middle school heartthrob is all that cute–but her new girl friend sure is!–and seeing this book on her teacher’s bookshelf. A book like this truly can make a world of difference for these kids. I say it all the time (and I’m certainly not alone in doing so): REPRESENTATION MATTERS! On top of that, reading about people different from ourselves (in all kinds of ways), helps create empathy, which is crucial to understanding and tolerance. So, hey, fellow adults: STOP trying to keep books like P.S. I Miss You and Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee out of school libraries and out of children's hands! They will be dealing with these issues in real life well before we consider them young adults, whether or not you think the issues are “too mature,” so why not give them tools to help understand what’s going on?

Okay, I’ll jump down from the soapbox now! Basically, I love this book, and I know it has the power to change some young lives for the better. Evie is an incredible character who shines so brightly that you can’t help but love her. I highly recommend this book, without any reservations whatsoever, and I will definitely be encouraging tweens (and adults!) I know to pick it up. Thank you to Rockstar Book Tours, Jen Petro-Roy, and Feiwel & Friends for having me on the tour! I feel richer for having read this incredible debut.

Rating: 5 bright and shiny stars!

*Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher as part of this blog tour. This is my voluntary, honest rating and review.

Heartbreaking novel about a girl who experiences loss and searches for God and meaning in her life. Great coming of age story about forgiveness, forgiving others for their faults, and finding acceptance for oneself.

I was curious about the book after hearing that some schools were denying the author a visit. Currently I am a K-5 building but next year will have 6th graders. I would feel comfortable having my fifth graders meet Evie and June and fall for them as I did. Thank you for the opportunity to read it in advance.

I wrote a review for my blog below along with Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World.

This was just okay for me. Writing was just okay, characters were just okay...Evie's voice felt so young and naive, and I couldn't connect that with her budding sexuality, even though 11 into 12 is certainly a reasonable age for that to be coming to light. And I find it hard to believe that parents would do half of what her parents did. I struggled with that.

P.S. I Miss You by Jen Petro-Roy is a captivating and authentic story of a young girl as she writes letters to her sister about the issues of their lives. Evie's voice drives the action in a way that feels real and true, with the urgency and intensity of a young woman opening her heart to her older sister and confidante.

This beautiful, moving story celebrates the deep connection between sisters. Evie's letters to her older sister Cilla, sent away by conservative Catholic parents after becoming pregnant in high school, give such a detailed glimpse into the life and mind of the seventh grade protagonist. Evie's admiration for Cilla shines throughout, as well as the way she sees herself as akin to her sister -- is she a sinner in her parents' eyes, too, because she has a crush on her female friend, June? I loved following along as Evie turns over so many deep questions in her mind. I yearned for Cilla and Evie's parents to reconsider their strongly held beliefs and become more compassionate, yet their portrayal is unfortunately true to life in this very polarized historical moment we find ourselves in.

I received an ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

I give this book 5/5 stars.

This book is done entirely in letters - primarily written from Evie to her sister Cilla. Cilla was sent to their aunt's house to live because of a teenage pregnancy. Evie misses her sister and struggles with holding true to her own identity and feelings.

I'm having a hard time imagining that some of the events in the story (such as sending a pregnant daughter away and hiding her pregnancy) would realistically happen today, but maybe I'm wrong here.

This is a beautiful, heartfelt, poignant book about sisters and identity. It's the heartbreaking (but ultimately hopeful) story of a girl growing up in a strict, conservative household, who begins to question her sexual identity through the letters she writes to her estranged sister. So thoughtful, and will be so meaningful to kids who need to see themselves reflected in books.

I wanted to like this, but it just went on and on. Evie began writing letters to her sister Celia after Celia went to their great-aunt’s house to give birth. After the baby’s arrival, Celia enrolled in a Catholic girls’ school. She refused to answer any of Evie’s letters, even as Evie began asking Celia for advice. Celia and Evie’s parents are very judgmental and overbearing. They are not at all likable. Once I got to the end of the novel, I found I liked them even less. I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley giving me the opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review.

The characters in this books are likable and have qualities that we all find endearing. When Evie hurts, you want to hug her and tell her things will be better. For readers to empathize with a character is something an author strives for. But I think this book, although seemingly trying to show that sexual preferences and experimentation are not sins, might be a bit much for me to swallow.

Evie started writing letters to her sister Cilla when Cilla left home (was kicked out, really) and move to an aunt's house. Evie is hoping that Cilla will come home after the baby is born instead of going to boarding school, but that's not entirely up to Cilla. The pregnancy has shamed and embarrassed their strict Catholic parents, to the extent that they've denied Cilla's very existence. Evie writes out her loneliness and asks questions, not only about her sister but if herself, trying to understand their parents, faith, religion, and her own sexuality.

Parts of this book are sucker-punches to the gut. Evie's parents are terrible people who are trying so hard to do the right thing--they're not intentionally terrible, but they're not particularly forgiving, either. Evie needs so much more than they were able to give. I'm relieved she at least has her friend-family, but she really could have used some more adult guidance and support. (Not a fault of the book, but a strength that I feel so deeply for these flawed characters who are doing the best they can.)