A loving tribute to her “Maw”, whom 19 year old daughter Tyler lost to ovarian cancer at age 47, this graphic memoir sensitively covers every aspect of what a daughter might think and feel throughout this awful tragedy. Tyler shares every particular, endearing quality of her mother, and ways that their relationship was so special to her. Tyler’s mom Rhonda helps her to move in to college her freshman year. When Tyler returns for the summer, her mom receives her diagnosis of stage four cancer, and begins chemo. Tyler sees some of the effects of the treatment, like hair loss, fatigue and bloat, and her dad has to help move Tyler when she returns for her sophomore year.

When she returns for winter break, Tyler is appalled at the terrible toll chemo has taken on her mom. The family manages to have a good break, doing some normal activities, but Tyler is afraid to return to school and leave her mother like this. This is the last time they have real conversation. Immersing herself in coursework and campus life, she doesn’t give her mother much thought. All this comes crashing down when she returns at the end of the school year, only to have her father take her directly to the hospital. Tyler finds her mother only has days left to live. Tyler takes us though the entire process and its impacts on her two sisters, father, and finally extended family and friends.

The funeral and shiva (the family is Jewish) are given in sensitive detail, with Tyler’s feelings about grieving friends’ attempts to express their condolences and sympathies. Tyler shares her path back to the “new normal”, trying to regain her footing and moving her life forward. She shares all her thoughts and concerns about her life, how it has changed, and how fulfillment, purpose, and happiness are still possible. She talks about how she can carry the best of her mom into her life, and making sure she remembers what is meaningful about her, tinged with sadness, bittersweet. While marketed for teens, this book is good for every age. Parents would want to read this, to make sensitive funeral plans that considers family grief. We all will die, and we all will have to say goodbye to loved ones. This book will spark thoughtful conversations in families. It is a very worthy of your time and attention.