Review of The Leaf Who Felt Grief

[Savina Visintin]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Leaf Who Felt Grief" by Ms Jenna McDaniel.]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

There are many ways to make children understand what pain is, but many of them can be inappropriate or excessively sad. Jenna McDaniel has found a clear and easy way to explain loss to younger readers. Inspired by the author's personal experience, The Leaf Who Felt Grief is a book that addresses this delicate issue using words and images. The protagonist is a leaf afraid to detach itself from the tree because it fears that, after that, everything will be over, but is it right to think so?

I must say that this book struck me first of all for the theme it deals with. It is not easy for us adults to explain pain and loss to children, but I believe the author has succeeded in her aim effectively. I perceived a lot of melancholy in the book, and the words and beautiful illustrations (in which the prevailing colors are red, orange, and blue) convey all the emotions the leaf feels. Furthermore, I liked the morale because it offers hope and consolation.

If I have to think of something I did not like, it is the typos. There are not too many (also because the book is short), but they sometimes cause me a bit of confusion. However, this does not affect the book's message, which readers find easy to understand.

The book is aimed primarily at young people, but while reading it, I thought it could also be suitable for adults. McDaniel's writing can be inspiring and comforting to anyone who has experienced loss, regardless of age. I think this is another positive aspect of the book and makes it stand out from other texts dealing with the same theme.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars only because of the typos, but I find it an excellent read and suitable for anyone facing suffering and sadness.

******
The Leaf Who Felt Grief
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon