Between the Lighthouse and You

Description

Everyone says Alice Jones's mother died in a boating accident, but Alice doesn't believe them. When she hears that the residents of Aviles know how to communicate with loved ones who have died, she knows she has to go-if she can contact her mother, she might have all the answers she needs. For generations, Leo Mercury's family has been in charge of the Aviles Island lighthouse. Now, his family runs the annual Tidings Festival, when everyone in town can trade letters with loved ones who have died. When nosy Alice Jones shows up for the festival, Leo knows it's up to him to protect the island's traditions. Because something about the tidings is changing, and he needs to fix it before it's too late. Between the Lighthouse and You is a heartwarming story about love, grief, and letting go.

Michelle Lee is an award-winning published scholar, fiction writer, and poet. She has edited various academic and literary journals, and was twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She lives in Florida with her family, listening to her nine-year old daughter sing, and spending time in cafes with her husband. Find her at michelleleewritesmagic.com.

"The alternating first-person present-tense voices of Alice and Leo provide immediacy and intimacy, while the interactions between and among their down-to-earth families add realism, making the implausible feel possible. The island lighthouse setting proves an ideal venue for otherworldly communication . . . A heartwarming, emotional tale of family, grief, and acceptance." --Kirkus Reviews "Beautifully written and captures the agony of unresolved grief. Lee provides rich detail on the physical landscape of the island, and each chapter slowly reveals answers to Alice's many questions, leaving readers eager for more." --School Library Journal "A heartfelt exploration of grief and familial love." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "In her first novel, Lee offers an involving, uplifting story about coming to terms with grief and finding a meaningful way to move forward." --Booklist "the narrative's heart and energy, as well as its portrayal of the many ways one can be isolated and paralyzed by grief, feel true and meaningful." --Horn Book