Reading Metrics
Description
When her parents die in a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Lisa is sent to live with her aunt, where she wrestles with overwhelming grief. To escape the painful present, she retreats into an imagined world guided by an imaginary playmate who helps her slip back into the past. As she clings to these memories, Lisa must decide whether staying anchored in yesterday will help her heal or prevent her from moving forward.
Quick Summary
When Lisa is forced to move in with her aunt after some difficult family changes, she's not exactly thrilled about her new reality until she discovers she can actually travel back to visit her old life through an imaginary playmate who turns out to be way more helpful than you'd expect. The story balances real emotional weight (grief, adjustment, feeling like you don't belong) with a fantasy twist that makes it feel fresh rather than heavy-handed, and Lisa's voice is genuinely funny and relatable without being annoying. Kids who enjoy books like "The Girl Who Could Fly" or anything with a touch of magic mixed into real-world problems will probably devour this one. There's nothing too intense here it's more bittersweet and hopeful than scary but the "what if I could change things" element gives it that slightly thrilling edge that keeps you turning pages. Parents will appreciate that it handles grief and change in a way that feels honest without being depressing, and the friendship dynamic between Lisa and her aunt develops in ways that feel earned. If you know a kid going through their own big life transition or just someone who loves a good mix of heart and imagination, this is a solid pick that doesn't talk down to its audience.