Aalia’s Guardian Angel

A surprisingly upbeat Jr. Youth book about grief, loss, and the afterlife that is appropriate for both Baha’is and their friends.

Here’s what the publisher says:

At fifteen Aalia feels she’s experienced a lifetime of grief. Not only has she lost her grandmother, and beloved cat Abbey unexpectedly, she’s grieving the recent loss of her best friend Charlotte. Her curiosity piques when Liam, Charlotte’s younger brother passes on a message from Charlotte from the afterlife stating, ‘Help Willow.’ But how? She only met Willow, a new student, earlier that day when “buddied” by the Year 10 Coordinator?!

A contemporary novella for junior youth (12-15) about coping with grief, the power of friendship, and exploring one of life’s big questions – What happens when we die?

Written to encourage young people to explore their own beliefs about the afterlife – touching on near-death experiences, reincarnation, guardian angels, communicating with the departed, and the Baha’i Faith’s perspective.

Here’s what I told the author after reading it:

Let me say that I LOVE this book. It isn’t preachy. The characters are believable. The challenges are realistic. The guidance is sparse and well-integrated into the story. The “woo” factor is enough to add some fantasy elements, but you clearly state that they are NOT part of the Baha’i teachings. It was smart having it written from the perspective of the non-Baha’i character, with the Baha’i family really playing an important but secondary role in the story.

Congratulations!