What a heartbreaking story! Phoebe's pain and heartache is so raw you will feel like you are there with her. It's a very emotional story that covers a wide range of issues. It will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next in Phoebe's life and how she handles it. Outstanding read! Grab a box of tissue before you start reading this book, you're going to need them. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Though families are never supposed to have a favorite child, twelve-year-old Phoebe Peterson believes without a doubt that her younger sister Okalee holds that place in their parents’ hearts. Growing up in a small town in Montana, the sisters are close despite their differences, and every year they commemorate River Day, a celebration of their own creation. This year, Okalee is determined to cross the Grayling River by herself, despite the great danger involved in traversing a river through snowmelt. Pride and fear affect the decisions the girls make, resulting in a swirling tangle of emotions as dynamic as the river itself.

This middle grade coming-of-age story features Phoebe, a sixth grader whose grades have never been stellar and who dreams of becoming a professional singer one day. Okalee is two years younger and a standout student, wholeheartedly supporting Phoebe’s efforts especially when it comes to singing. However, Okalee is beginning to emerge into her own independence, a reality that is the precursor to the moment that changes both of their lives forever. As Phoebe gets lost in her own emotions, she sometimes fails to recognize that others around her are struggling, too.

Heart-wrenching plot points add to the intensity of this novel. While the primary event is somewhat expected because of the title and allusions early on in the story, the unfolding of the narrative is cathartic for young and older readers alike. Well-suited to middle grade readers, this story explores feelings of guilt, disappointment, and inadequacy on many levels. Greatly flawed, Phoebe makes mistakes like everyone does, and working through the consequences of her actions is a painful, albeit necessary growth experience.

Due to the general predictability of the plot, Phoebe’s emotional development becomes the central focus of the narrative. Challenging interpersonal dynamics are familiar to readers of all ages, and observing Phoebe’s reaction to an unthinkably tragic experience helps connect readers to grief in their own lives. Unique characters and an easily accessible narrative make this a good fit for confident middle grade readers who appreciate an emotionally complex story.

TW: Death of a child.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

Set in a small town in Montana, a young girl must deal with the grief of her dead sister while also harboring a horrible secret about that day. This is a story of guilt, losing a loved one, and forgiving yourself for things that are out of your control.

Phoebe is a Cuban-American sixth grader who has a younger sister named Okalee that is 10 years old. Phoebe loves singing and is excited when she wins the chance to sing a solo at her school’s spring concert.

When their parents leave to visit a relative for a day, Phoebe and Okalee decide to take a swim in the nearby river. It is not a good time of the year to be in the river because it is still fast running with snow melt, and when Okalee refuses to cross with her older sister, she is swept away with the current and drowns. When Phoebe is asked about the incident, she lies.

The death of her sister has taken away Phoebe’s singing voice because of her guilt and grief. But she is determined to get it back before her big night. When Phoebe returns to school, she is assigned to Dr. Santana for grief counseling. She also discovers a note—someone knows that she lied about the details surrounding Okalee’s death.

I really enjoyed this book!

#Missing Okalee #Netgalley

A story about tragedy, forgiveness and grief.
Two sisters, Phoebe and Okalee, as different as two sisters can be. Phoebe loves to sing and Okalee excellent on multiple subjects at school. Phoebe secretly wishes that she could do well in school, but also wants her parents to notice what she is good at too.
When tragedy strikes, Phoebe is scared, and doesn't tell what really happened, she keeps it trapped inside.
With the help of a school counselor and a good friend, Phoebe starts to heal from the tragedy.
Although this book, has everything happening so fast, I feel like it also shows the stages of grief. This book was hard to put down.

Phoebe Paz Petersen might not have the bubbly personality of her little sister, Okalee, but she harbors a talent most people don’t know about. She doesn’t gravitate towards math or science or homework, but she does have a powerful voice. Phoebe’s best friend, Helena, and Okalee give her confidence to audition for the school’s annual spring concert. Phoebe knows if she wins the audition, she’ll gain the respect and notice of her small Montana community—and her parents.

Phoebe feels all the responsibilities of big sisterhood and struggles at times to follow their parents’ request to take care of her little sister. Okalee wants to spread her own wings and doesn’t take kindly to Phoebe’s cautious, older sisterly ways. Like sisters everywhere, Phoebe and Okalee share a secret not even their parents know about—River Day.

But this year, their River Day goes horribly wrong. What happens will forever change the lives of the Petersen family and will ripple out to change other lives in the close-knit community. The trauma of the day takes away the one thing Phoebe felt made her special—her singing voice.

As Phoebe struggles to regain her voice, her vocal rival starts a cruel rumor. A mysterious witness to River Day leaves notes demanding the truth about what really happened on the fateful day. Phoebe feels desperate to sign and honor Okalee, but the cauldron of emotions conspires to keep her silent.

Why I Loved This Book

Phoebe, acting as the story’s narrator, transports readers to the heart of her multicultural family with her beautiful, lyrical words and descriptions. As Phoebe and her family process the events of the day, readers learn how everyone reacts differently to grief.

When a tragedy happens at a school, or within a school community, newspapers always proclaim, “counselors are standing by to help the children process the event.” I’ve always wondered what the phrase means.

As an educator, I understand the importance of allowing children and young adults to ‘try on’ life experiences vicariously through fiction. Missing Okalee gives readers insight into what trauma counseling might look like for the individuals most closely associated with a tragedy. Students (as well as parents and teachers) need the valuable insights the book offers to understand how they, too, could find help if something tragic happens in their family.

Crushing guilt clouds Phoebe’s journey with grief. She struggles to deal with small-town rumors, the consequences of telling the whole truth, and the complicated relationships between family members.

Missing Okalee has a Jacob Have I Loved meets Bridge to Terabithia vibe with a fresh, own voices feel. Book lovers from 8-108, teachers, and librarians, will want to snag a copy of the book. And a box of tissue. I won’t lie. You’ll need tissue.

Disclaimer

You’ll find me listed in the author’s credits at the back of the book. I sat next to Georgeline Morsette, the Chippewa-Cree poet, back before she knew how to write her name (we attended the same church). I’d smile as Georgeline wiggled because I could remember the days before my daughter, Laura, could sit still during church. Reading took care of that problem.

Fresh after reading this book, I am unsure how to describe exactly how I feel towards it. At times, the story was extremely touching and powerful. I loved the climax where Phoebe finally admits the truth. However, I was frustrated by the accelerated pace of the plot. Everything happened in a matter of weeks, with the ending scene happening about a month after the initial incident. Grief and healing doesn't happen so quickly. I understand that Phoebe may have been laser-focused on her solo as a way to pretend the trauma had never occurred, but if that was the case it was never explained or elaborated upon. Instead the idea of the solo was exaggerated like the penultimate moment where everything would be solved nice and neatly. I mean, the book even ends with the line "And I am at peace." I know grief is different for everyone; I just couldn't suspend my belief enough at certain parts.

Another issue is the altercations between Phoebe and Kat. Kat is never properly disciplined for any of the horrible things she says to Phoebe. I know these things happen all the time. But this a book targeted at kids, and there is never a moment where it is explained that Kat is the one in the wrong. Kat is frequently retraumatizing Phoebe, but Phoebe is one who gets detention and gets in trouble! That's not okay.

I also disliked the repeated and frequent use of metaphors. One of the most memorable is "I take a sip of the sweet chocolate and close my eyes as it slides over my tongue like a bolt of silk unspooling." This was a little much for me.

All in all, the story was enjoyable, but missed the mark.

#netgalley

Thank you to the publisher for an e-ARC of this gem.

Phoebe's little sister Okalee is her biggest fan, but Okalee is near perfect, and Phoebe is constantly trying to measure up. When Phoebe finally wins the chorus solo, she feels her time has come, but an accident during a sisters tradition rocks Phoebe's world and she can't recover her voice, or her family.

I loved this book, but it could only be described as heartbreaking. I ached for Phoebe so often in this book, and wept through the ending of this book. Her pain was palpable, and her mother's grief so raw.

Just not for me. I found the story relentlessly, almost pointlessly sad. The lack of commentary on the coldblooded nature of Mama's grief and Kat's bullying (all for the sake, of all things, a spot in the high school choir?!) was in equal parts distressing and unbelievable.

Just a book of heartbreak. In missing Okalee, you will meet a sister who is trying to put her life back together after the ultimate tragedy. My heart just ached through the entire story. I couldn't put it down.

When twelve-year-old Phoebe's sister, Okalee, drowns during 'River Day,' a spring river-crossing ritual that the sisters have observed in secret for years, Phoebe blames herself and lies about what actually happened. Her gut-wrenching guilt over her sister's death is only made worse when friends start rumors suggesting that Phoebe really is responsible, and even her mama seems to believe them. What follows is a harrowing story about the immediate aftermath of traumatic loss. Laura Ojeda Melchor's prose often reads like poetry. Her descriptions of scent and of nature bring Phoebe's world to startling life. MISSING OKALEE is a heartbreaking exploration of the ways raw grief can impact a community, a family, and an individual. My thanks to the author, to Shadow Mountain, and to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Missing Okalee is a novel that speeds by, treating on place, family, loss, and grief. A powerful text for thinking about invitations to process traumatic events, and so important for young people to read. Highly recommended.

When Phoebe’s sister, Okalee, drowns in the river Phoebe lies about how it happened. She is then consumed with guilt and grief. Her mom can barely look at her. Then someone leaves a note hinting they know what happened. Who? Phoebe tries to find out who saw what happened, and this sets off a series of unfortunate events. Will she find out who sent the note? Will she be able to tell the truth as to what really happened? Great book.