In 'Love Letters to the Dead', a grieving teenager named Laurel grapples with the loss of her sister by writing letters to deceased icons. Through her heartfelt and candid correspondence, she uncovers the complexities of love, loss, and her own identity. Each letter serves as a portal into her pain and resilience, revealing secrets that could shatter her world. As Laurel's story unfolds, readers are drawn into her emotional journey filled with raw honesty and introspection. This poignant tale invites you to contemplate the power of connection and the healing nature of expression.
By Ava Dellaira
Published: 2015
"You don’t have to be the one who survives; you just have to be the one who cares."
It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more--though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was--lovely and amazing and deeply flawed--can she begin to discover her own path in this stunning debut from Ava Dellaira, Love Letters to the Dead.
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“You don’t have to be the one who survives; you just have to be the one who cares.”
Love Letters to the Dead
By Ava Dellaira
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Ava Dellaira is an acclaimed American author best known for her debut novel, "Love Letters to the Dead," which received widespread praise for its poignant exploration of grief and the complexities of adolescence. Her writing often blends lyrical prose with powerful themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, resonating deeply with young adult audiences. Dellaira's work has been recognized with several awards and nominations, and she continues to contribute to the literary landscape with her compelling storytelling.
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