Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When high-school senior Lottie's aunt Helen dies, the world-famous children's book author leaves her anxiety-prone niece twenty-four letters to ease Lottie into the grieving process, push her beyond her comfort zone, and help her uncover her aunt's biggest secret. Lottie's perceptive narration acknowledges each character's unique way of mourning. Excerpts from Aunt Helen's novels introduce just enough fantasy to make a late-in-the-game surprise believable. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

When Lottie's favorite aunt dies, she leaves behind a wave of griefand a mysterious series of letters.High school senior Lottie Reaves isn't the only one mourning her beloved aunt Helen after she succumbs to cancerHelen is the record-selling author of the Alvin Hatter series, which follows the adventures of two immortal siblings and has achieved J.K. Rowling-level fame. But it turns out that Aunt Helen had a surprise in store for Lottie24 letters with a sequence of challenges to help her get through her grief and fight her anxious tendenciesas well as a secret she's never revealed. As Lottie completes the missions with her best friend, Em, younger brother, Abe, and mysterious not-quite-boyfriend Sam, she learns more about her aunt, herself, and the natures of life, death, and time than she ever expected. Excerpts from Alvin Hatter books give readers a taste of the books that captured the world, and diversity is seamlessly integrated throughout the book mixed-race Lottie has a Peruvian mom and a white dad, and her white best friend is a lesbian with an unaccepting mother. Lottie's anxieties are discussed in a gentle yet candid manner, and her close-knit relationship with her family members is refreshing and realistic. A charming and sophisticated take on handling grief with a mystical twist ending that is sure to engage teens nostalgic for the magic of reading Harry Potter or Tuck Everlasting for the first time. (Fiction. 13-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.