This is beautifully crafted, capturing the essence of loss and the grief it brings. It's perfectly suited for middle school readers, yet teens and adults alike will appreciate the poignant perspective shared with the reader. Though a first crush serves as a small backdrop to this narrative, the true essence of the story is a heartfelt tribute to the love shared between siblings.

love, and the fragile journey of moving forward when your heart still clings to the past. Fussner's novel-in-verse hits like a punch to the gut in the best way possible, with every line dripping with raw emotion and poetic beauty. Nina’s struggle to let go of her sister, Lily, is so relatable it hurts, and the magical realism woven into her journey adds a layer of depth that makes the story feel almost dreamlike. The way Fussner captures the complexities of sibling bonds, the yearning to hold onto lost loved ones, and the fear of stepping into the unknown is masterful. If you've ever lost someone or felt stuck between holding on and moving on, this book will resonate deeply. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves stories that make you feel every single word, especially fans of lyrical, heartfelt narratives like Everywhere Blue.

A beautiful novel-in-verse about finding your own path while respecting all the ways that children grieve. 12-year-old Nina found comfort in art even when her friends and family expected her to be over the grief of losing her sister and not be sad anymore. “I don’t want to be the girl with the dead disaster or pretending she never existed. They both hurt.” Nina convinces her parents to let her visit her aunt in Paris to take an art course for the summer but she's really it is to finish Lily’s 13 before turning 13 wish list. Until she wakes in her aunt's apartment to see memories of her life with Lily. I cried a few times and then by 90% I was bawling! The poems are incredible atmospheric--young readers will feel transported to Paris--and connect with Nina's first crush with Sylvie, full of emotion and the need to see those we care for as their own people with their own goals and desires. Highly recommend!!

I usually really like novels in verse but I didn't care for how this was written at all. The concept was great and the story was beautiful I just found the writing kind of confusing. It muddled the story for me unfortunately.

This novel in verse does some things very well. The first is develops a young lesbian relationship. It's gentle and soft and represents a common experience for young people. The second is keeping the focus on recovering after grief. The lists in the book are a great way to keep the plot moving and the reader engaged.

This book is 4.5 stars. The inclusion of the magical moments -- bringing back to life past events -- is. a lovely addition. I would have rated it 5 stars if the author had gone a little farther with the magical realism elements. For instance, when the parents visit they act like she has been missing for a very long time. It might have been a cool touch to have had a time lapse happen for everyone without them knowing at the time. The book built to this and didn't follow through. It works the way it's written; it just seems like a missed opportunity.

I would recommend this book to young readers who love travel, time changes, who are dealing with grief, family dynamics, or young love.