Summary

This book is a Literary Hybrid: a memoir and exploration of a healing journey. It is for anyone who has experienced the loss of a sibling. The author draws from her own experience of the loss of her brother and interviews with 77 survivors of sibling loss. She explores the impact of death on the surviving siblings, and how they are deprived of the mourning process because many parents do not discuss the death of a child with them. The ambiguous loss and disenfranchised grief often felt by siblings of all ages is discussed and the importance of reforming an identity after the loss of a sibling is highlighted.

Quotes

At her brother's funeral the author was told "you will have to be good now, your parents have been through a lot."

Debbie, one of the interviewees, described the loss of a sibling as "the elephant in the room that everyone steps around."

General Themes

This book is a gift to anyone who has lost a sibling. The author's brave examination of her own experience, coupled with anecdotes from her interviews, are both compelling and comforting.

What the Reviewer Liked

The author manages to successfully weave the findings of her interviews into a deeply moving memoir of her own healing journey.

Shortcomings or Flaws

Interviews were carried out with a relatively small sample (77).

Writing Style

Written with a very easy flowing style, which makes this moving subject easy to digest.

Author Qualifications

• Brother died after long illness when the author was 14.
• Has masters degree in public health and fine arts
• Has written about science and health issues for several prestigious magazines
  

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Kara is the Gothic root of the word "care."
It means to reach out, to care, to lament, to grieve with.