Everyone likes beautiful blue skies.

But sometimes? Sometimes the sky is dark blue, black blue, midnight blue.

And sometimes life is blue too.

Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be fun, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and to dream with, Sage is lost.

In a counseling group, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. And even as Sage grieves, good things enter her life—steps taken toward her dream of becoming a pilot, new friends, a first kiss—and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all.

Renée Watson shares a beautiful, important story of a girl's journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands.