The Girl Death Left Behind

Beth's world has been torn apart.  She cannot figure out how to go on when a car accident claims the lives of her entire family, and she is the only survivor.  Things seem to get even worse when she moves in with her aunt and her spoiled cousin, Terri.  But with the love and support of her aunt and some unexpected friends, Beth struggles to overcome the despair that threatens to consume her.  Will she be able to move past the painful memories without feeling guilty for being a survivor?

Numb with grief when an accident kills her entire family, fourteen-year-old Beth suddenly finds herself living with her spoiled cousin Terri and trying to make friends at a new school.

Readers will be touched and inspired by this latest novel from bestselling author Lurlene McDaniel:

Beth's world has been torn apart.  She cannot figure out how to go on when a car accident claims the lives of her entire family, and she is the only survivor.  Things seem to get even worse when she moves in with her aunt and her spoiled cousin, Terri.  But with the love and support of her aunt and some unexpected friends, Beth struggles to overcome the despair that threatens to consume her.  Will she be able to move past the painful memories without feeling guilty for being a survivor?

VOYA

Fourteen-year-old Beth's family seems fairly typical-her little brother and younger sister are troublesome nuisances, and her parents have high expectations of her. Unfortunately, Beth realizes she never appreciated her family enough after they are all killed in a car crash on their way to a Fourth of July picnic (Beth stayed home recovering from the flu). Beth's only relative is her mother's sister and her family, and moving to their home is Beth's only option. Dealing with crushing grief, missing her best friends and familiar neighborhood, being the new kid in school, and living with her incredibly spoiled cousin pretty much sums up Beth's new existence. Her only friends are Jared, the boy her cousin Teri wants; and Sloan, a rebellious loner. After a hastily-decided trip back to her old house, Beth eventually comes to terms with her loss and her new life.

McDaniel's fans will find familiar territory here. The characters are simplistic, the plot is predictable, and the tragic circumstances will pluck the heartstrings of readers who love crisis novels. Many teen readers love McDaniel's books, so libraries can expect the same will be true for this one as well.

VOYA Codes: 3Q 2P M J (Readable without serious defects, For the YA reader with a special interest in the subject, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8 and Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9).

Lurlene McDaniel began writing inspirational novels about teenagers facing life-altering situations when her son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.  Her work has received generous praise from parents, teachers, reviewers, and most importantly, her readers.