The random and uncontrollable nature of tragedy is one of the tougher truths of life, and Annie’s struggle to absorb its impact will resonate with young readers. Finch, is believable in its initial reluctance, but Charlotte veterans will realize the impact the book is likely to hold for her once she gets to the climax. Her anger at her parents is understandable and credibly expressed, and her encounter with Charlotte’s Web, given to her by Mrs. Graff writes with a plainspoken, familiar style that’s carefully crafted beneath its apparent simplicity, as with Annie’s sad, wry, perceptive description of people’s tendency to give her the “dead-brother look,” a description that’s both apt and accessible. Finch, who is also mourning a recent loss.

It doesn’t help that her parents are finding it hard to look beyond their own grief, and that she’s had a falling out with her best friend what does help is her growing friendship with her kind new neighbor, Mrs. Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff ebook 1 of 1 copy available Borrow Read a sample Add to wish list Add to history Description Details Reviews Annie Richards knows there are a million things to look out forbicycle accidents, food poisoning, chicken pox, smallpox, typhoid fever, runaway zoo animals, and poison oak. Only a few months ago, ten-year-old Annie lost her older brother, Jared, to a freak accident since then, Annie has been overwhelmed by the risks to survival in everyday life, burying herself in medical information and wearing her bike helmet whenever possible.

Umbrella summer by lisa graff