• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

February in 1921 Whitaker, Saskatchewan, is colder and bleaker than usual as 13-year-old Lucy May Barber mourns her mother's sudden death. Unable to foresee life without Mama, Lucy decides it's up to her to hold the family together.

But that turns out to be easier said than done, and it isn't long before everything starts going wrong. Papa hires a meddling housekeeper; five-year-old Teddy starts forgetting Mama; 15-year-old Tom gets involved with bootleggers; and Papa buries himself in his work, leaving the children to fend for themselves. In addition, Papa blames their favourite uncle for Mama's death and banishes him from their home.

Lucy fears all is lost, until another tragedy forces her to confront her grief in a different way.

After nearly 30 years as a published author, Kristin has written more biographies of herself than she cares to remember. And she has run out of new ways to describe the same old life. Besides, she doesn't think of herself in terms of her birthplace, education, and work history. What she'd really like people to know about her is that she loves to dance. She loves to laugh. She loves to learn. Crossword puzzles relax her. Waiting frustrates her. She likes spending time by herself. And, like the heroine in her new book Closer to Far Away, she has a family that gives her strength. Her books include Cheat, Girls Like Me, The Druid and the Dragon, and Alibi. Kristin lives in Campbell River, British Columbia.

Kristin Butcher's profile page

"This is a heartwarming story about life, loss and grief, friendship, love, and hope.
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5"

"Details about farm life, domestic routines, and Prohibition firmly establish the rural historical setting, while Lucy's emotional struggles will resonate with a contemporary audience … Lucy is equal parts fragile and fierce as she tries to deal with her grief, and her misguided attempts to keep life from changing are both understandable and heartbreaking. Ultimately, the knowledge that she isn't alone in her experience helps Lucy move forward. The cast presents white.
"A warm and insightful exploration into the nature of grief and healing."