Jake by Audrey Couloumbis

Close your eyes and imagine you are a ten year old boy....got it?  Okay, now imagine that your father has died and you live alone with your very wonderful mom.  Okay?  Add to the mental picture a grandfather you only speak with on the phone who sends you a Christmas present every year like clockwork but doesn't really know you and a nice neighbor lady.  Are you still with me?  Okay, now imagine you are at the grocery store with your mom; it's really, really cold outside and there is ice everywhere.  You come out of the store and your mom slips on the ice.  One minute she's there and the next she isn't.  An old lady starts screaming for help.  You don't know what to do.  Eventually, an ambulance comes and takes your mom to the hospital.  You find yourself in a waiting room and some stranger lady comes in and starts asking you questions about who you can contact but all your family is away and you don't know what to do.  Are you feeling how scary that could be?  You will if you read this book. Don't worry, it works out in the end and people come together in the nicest ways but Audrey Couloumbis does a good job of telling a story in a ten year old's voice and making you feel his feelings of fright, loss and worry.
159 pp