I’m a huge Jessie Ann Foley fan. A new book from her is always a gift. I loved her Neighborhood Girls and The Carnival At Bray. Sorry For You Loss is a story that is just as wonderful. Pup is the youngest of eight children in an Irish Catholic family in Chicago, He lost his brother, Patrick a few years ago. His family is still reeling from that loss in different ways that are not always obvious to each other. Pup’s brother Luke has a drinking problem and Pup feels he constantly needs to cover for him. Pup is part of a grief support group at his school. That is where he meet Izzy, the object of his unrequited crush. Pup is also struggling in his art class and his photography project is the only thing between him and failure, This is the story of Pup dealing with the painful impact of losing his brother, his feelings about girls and discovering a new talent he didn’t know existed. Jessie Ann Foley is a master at creating a cast of characters I root for and I enjoy following their journeys. After I read the moment with Pup and Patrick’s baseball hat, I had to put the book down and cry. This is a great book for both teenage boys and girls. It has appeal factors for both. Adults will love it too. This is a summer book you won’t want to miss.
Some ideas for discussing with teens:
Discuss Pup’s relationship with Izzy and Abby. How are they different?
Discuss the photograph he took of Luke on the roof.
Discuss Pup’s relationship with his older sister-moms and his near perfect cousin.
Discuss how the author uses art elements to separate the sections of the story.
Discuss when Abby says, “I’d already figured out that here in America, people have trouble meeting you where you are. They have to bend you to become whatever they already know.”
Discuss this passage, “Sometimes Pup thought he loved Izzy because loving her felt the same as loving Patrick; a love that went unreturned, unnoticed, a dark wall that absorbed your light but never returned it.”
Discuss Pup’s relationship with Luke and this passage, “He was so used to covering for Luke, it no longer really even felt like lying.”
Discuss Pup’s moment with Patrick’s baseball cap.
Discuss when Mr. Hughes says, “Life itself is one long personal problem.”
Discuss, “In Flanland, what you have to do is steal a brand-new green bath mat from the linen closet and hope that it provokes a fight. And then hope the fight will start a, like, real conversation.”
Discuss how Pup’s siblings and parent dealt with Patrick’s death in different ways.
Discuss the phrase, “sorry for your loss.” What could you say instead?
Hickey Picks - Young Adult Readers Advisory 