All the Things We Found

Gr 3-7–Eleven-year-old Jewish girl Ruthie is anxious about her mother’s new pregnancy. The last time her mother was pregnant, three years before, the baby died and her parents divorced—the equivalent of a familial apocalypse. How can Ruthie survive what’s coming next? As a novel about living with grief, this is a how-to case study that even adult carers should read attentively. Ruthie’s divorced parents have an amicable relationship; they buy her a beloved emotional support dog, Izzy, and they are sensitive to the needs of their child. In turn, Ruthie (usually) articulates when she needs space to process emotions. Thankfully, although the premise seems specific and limiting, Ruthie proves to be bigger than her grief and anxiety. She joyfully loves Izzy, and her passion for unicorn novels infuses her reality. The novel gains texture when Ruthie realizes that an elderly park regular (and fellow Izzy admirer) is her favorite author, Lexi Marks, an author whose highly anticipated unicorn novel has been canceled in mysterious circumstances. When Izzy gets sick, Ruthie and Lexi collaboratively find a new narrative to help them cope. What starts as a rather niche issue becomes a larger commentary on grief. Lexi helps Ruthie back on the path to strong relationships with her family and community; Ruthie inspires Lexi to get back to writing.