This book is a beautiful expression of life. A girl and her family takes turns reciting experiences had with their recently deceased "Nana". The girl is nervous to speak in front of her family but is encouraged to and tells a beautiful tale of her last encounters with "Nana". This books is filled with cultural practices, food, and customs that are refreshing to read about. and the illustrations look awesome.

A young Jamaican girl attends her first sit-up, an event to honor her dead grandmother. Through listening to stories of her grandmother and telling her own, she finds joy in her sadness. Ages 5-9. Puyallup Public Library

A child dealing with the death of her nana and her family's old traditions to honor her Nana.

3-5
Pierce College Library System

Sareen, a young girl in Jamaica, is attending her first “sit-up,” a wake for her beloved Nana who has died. In Jamaican tradition, a ghost, or “duppy” stays for nine nights after death. On the ninth night, friends and family hold a “sit-up” to entertain the ghost so it will leave and find peace. In the note at the end of this book, the author writes that while wake customs have changed over time, Jamaican children still love “duppy stories” – especially because they honor the person who has died and affirm their lives. Between stories the celebrants feast on traditional foods, like curried goat and boiled green bananas.

Sareen wants to tell stories about her nana, but she is afraid she will burst into tears. Or maybe worse, what if when she tries to speak, no sound comes out of her mouth?

In the end, Sareen finds the courage from her love, and manages to tell her story of trying to find the sweetest mango for her sick nana. Happy she could participate, she joins in the dance at sunrise to see her nana off to her rest.

Evaluation: This heartwarming story, illustrated with portrait-like pictures by the talented Eric Velasquez, is a good way to show children how to deal with death, while simultaneously teaching about the people and customs of Jamaica. ( )