Status
Available
Local notes
Fic Mac
Collection
Genres
Publication
Katherine Tegen Books (2018), 144 pages
Description
Declan O'Brien always had a gentle word to share, odd phrases he liked to repeat, and songs to sing while he played basketball. His favorite song was Dona Nobis Pacem, "Grant Us Peace." His family loved him deeply and always knew they were loved in return. but a terrible accident one day changes their lives forever, and Fiona and Finn O'Brien are left without a father. Their mother is at a loss. What words are there to guide them through such overwhelming grief... Perhaps with time, patience, and their father's gentle words in their hearts, hope will spark once more." --
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
144 p.; 5.38 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member bookwren
I buy every new chapter book that Patricia MacLachlan writes. She is a wonder of putting heart into short novels with just the right words. Fiona and Finn O'Brien remember their father through his sayings and move through their grief over his death with the help of two rescue dogs. Spare and
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meaningful, though not maudlin. The song "Dona Nobis Pacem" is one of my favorites and MacLachlan uses it perfectly in her tale. This is a book to be read over and pondered. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ron18
Beautifully plotted and written. A delicate and often mishandled set of subjects. Authors who cover death, and children's reaction to it, often stray into schmaltzy contrived territory. The same thing happens with stories about the magical properties of human relationships with dogs. MacLachlan
As an aside - I picked this up from the NEW selections at our library, because our librarian is a rock star, and her ordering choices have been brilliant more often than not. It is a true joy to grab a title you had no awareness of, or intention to read, and then have it surprise you to tears when you read it at home. Thank you Leigh Anne :)
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skirts along the edge of these tropes, but never falls in. The result is a truly feeling and valuable story for any child or adult, alike. As an aside - I picked this up from the NEW selections at our library, because our librarian is a rock star, and her ordering choices have been brilliant more often than not. It is a true joy to grab a title you had no awareness of, or intention to read, and then have it surprise you to tears when you read it at home. Thank you Leigh Anne :)
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LibraryThing member Whisper1
The book jacket reviewing this beautiful tale notes that MacLahclan writes with "spare & poignant prose," and that is surely true. Never maudliln, always heartfelt, this story looks at familial grief and plodding through day by day after losing a husband and father.
Finn and Fiona O'Brien loved
Their loving mother is supportive, and is also grieving deeply. Together, the three of them, and others whose lives he impacted remember the love he so freely gave to all. He loved playing basketball with his family and it became a tradition of fun. His favorite song was Dona Nobis Pacem, "Grant Us Peace." and the family remembers him by listening to this beautiful music.
Woven in the tale is one of Declan O'Brien's clients who calls once a week to check in with the family. He adds a clear sense of how special this wonderful man was who helped so many through love, patience and kindness.
When Luke recommends that Finn and Fiona volunteer at a local animal shelter, they soon find meaning in helping dogs without a home. In particular, Finn, whose grief is so very raw, finds a dog whose master died. Slowly, Finn brings this dog away from the wall where he was stationed away from interaction. Fiona also finds a soul mate with a dog they bring home.
Stunningly beautiful, the author never fails to touch the heart of many readers.
Finn and Fiona O'Brien loved
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their father deeply. They remember him through his pithy phrases. He was a therapist and his language seemed to deeply address both happy and sad life occurences. When their father is tragically killed in a car accident after he swerved to miss hitting a dog and little boy, they grapple with how to move forward.Their loving mother is supportive, and is also grieving deeply. Together, the three of them, and others whose lives he impacted remember the love he so freely gave to all. He loved playing basketball with his family and it became a tradition of fun. His favorite song was Dona Nobis Pacem, "Grant Us Peace." and the family remembers him by listening to this beautiful music.
Woven in the tale is one of Declan O'Brien's clients who calls once a week to check in with the family. He adds a clear sense of how special this wonderful man was who helped so many through love, patience and kindness.
When Luke recommends that Finn and Fiona volunteer at a local animal shelter, they soon find meaning in helping dogs without a home. In particular, Finn, whose grief is so very raw, finds a dog whose master died. Slowly, Finn brings this dog away from the wall where he was stationed away from interaction. Fiona also finds a soul mate with a dog they bring home.
Stunningly beautiful, the author never fails to touch the heart of many readers.
Show Less
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Pages
144