The author, Rebecca Mason, wrote and illustrated this book for her three sons soon after their father died in 2007 but waited until 2019 to share her story with the world.

The story is told through the eyes of a young boy beginning on the day he learns from his mom that his father died because he had a hurt so big it could not be fixed. The illustrations convey to the reader the depth of the boy’s pain as he struggles with the enormity of his loss.

The boy’s mother offers hope, reassurance and encouragement. She helps the boy discover ways to keep his father in his heart and therefore close by. She also offers the promise that the boy will see his dad again someday in heaven which fills the boy with hope and leads him to be able to feel joy again.

This book has 30-50 words per page and relies on faith as the primary coping strategy as well as remembering his father through stories, photos and videos. Its strength is its ability to reflect the enormity of the loss of a parent in a young child’s life more so than to guide the reader through the coping and healing process. The reader is left feeling hopeful about the future. Recommended for ages 7-10.