"All this time I thought you and Daddy named me
for the state you were both born and raised in,
but when I looked at those books
and remembered your sketches, I wondered
if maybe you named me Georgia
for the artist who painted flowers and bones
so that you see them fresh,
like they are secret worlds you can lose yourself inside
if the real ones get too bad.
Momma, I am sure
that's the very first thing I'd ask,
if you were here."
Georgia is 13 and motherless. Since her Mom died six years ago things have not been going so well for the family. Georgia and her father have money problems and Georgia is suffering from frequent stomach aches and a lack of interest in school work. These signs of ‘trouble’ make her an At Risk student and she is scheduled to see the school counselor. Mrs. Yocum is understanding and makes a request of Georgia. She wants her to keep a journal of the things that she would like to say to her Mom. If she does that she can skip the regular counseling sessions and just check in every now and then. Georgia is satisfied with the deal and begins a diary/journal. In her journal the wonderful characters who people this book come to life, most particularly her father and her best friend Tiffany. Her father has not dealt with his own grief at the loss of his wife and can do little to help his daughter. Tiffany is bent on always being the best, and gets herself in trouble while seeking that perfection.
Georgia is such an amazing girl, reeling with grief and loss while trying to address her talent as an artist and working to be removed from the dreaded ‘at risk’ list at school. A gift membership to the Brandywine River Museum is just one of the paths that will lead her to better times ahead.
I think that novels in verse can provide a perfect entry to beautifully told stories for young adults. They offer up impeccable word choice, manageable text and stories that shine with well-drawn characters, deftly described settings and believable events…all in books that beg to be read and then read again. I will reread this fine book, and grieve and grow with Georgia. She is quite remarkable!
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