This was such an adorable and heartfelt story about death, loss, grief, and acceptance. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, with bright, vibrant colors that bring the story to life. It’s also a quick, easy read, but one that packs quite an emotional punch.
I loved the sister dynamic in this story. The older sister, Cat, is dealing with a lot of complicated emotions surrounding her younger sister’s illness. She’s had to completely uproot her life because of her sister, and she’s struggling with feelings of resentment, anger, and frustration over their new situation. But underneath all those emotions is a deep sadness because her family knows there’s no cure for Maya’s disease. They’re simply trying to make her as comfortable as possible and cherish the time they have together.
Cat desperately wants to support, protect, and love her little sister, but she’s also just a child herself, trying to navigate her own problems and emotions as a preteen. I thought the author did a wonderful job portraying that internal struggle. Cat loves her sister, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t allowed to feel upset about how much her own life has changed.
And then there’s Maya. What an adorable little girl! She’s sassy, outgoing, funny, and full of personality. She brings so much humor and lightheartedness to an otherwise emotional story. I really felt a lot of compassion for her situation. It’s heartbreaking to see children suffer, especially from an incurable disease. There were definitely some heavy, emotional moments that tugged at my heartstrings, but Maya always managed to bring a smile to my face and make me laugh. I loved her positive attitude and how she continued to embrace life despite her illness.
I also really enjoyed the Mexican culture woven throughout the story, especially the focus on DÃa de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). I loved learning more about the traditions surrounding this holiday and how it celebrates and honors loved ones who have passed away. The scenes involving the ghosts and spirits were especially fun, humorous, and a little chaotic.
While the overall tone is somewhat somber because of Maya’s illness, the story also has some wonderfully eerie and slightly creepy moments involving ghosts and spirits. It’s a nice balance of spooky, sweet, funny, and emotional without ever becoming too scary.
Overall, this was such a beautiful, touching story filled with important life lessons about family, love, grief, and acceptance. The gorgeous illustrations made the experience even more enjoyable, and I loved how the author balanced some pretty heavy topics with humor and heart.
Highly recommend! I’m definitely interested in checking out more of this author’s graphic novels.