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3 out of 4 stars
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There are no words to describe a parent who has lost a child. The depth of grief that comes with the loss of a child is indescribable. But how does life go on after that? This book tries to make sense of it all. Tre’s Story by Anna M. Penn is about the death of the author's unborn grandson. In the book, we get to witness her family mourning Tre's death and relying on their faith to move on. Their belief that Tre is an angel in heaven looking after them keeps them going strong and is a source of comfort for the family. The author's family's challenges and triumphs are documented in this account.
I thought the decision to write the story from Tre's point of view was brilliant. Tre's point of view was used to give the idea that he was a vital member of the family. He was right in the heart of the family's drama, demonstrating that he wasn't forgotten. Tre's friendship with Lambchop, his cousin, was endearing. He was wonderful as her guardian angel, and he did an outstanding job. He was present for her at all times and took his work very seriously.
I loved how Tre was portrayed as a compassionate character who is there for his family even in death. It was a pleasure learning more about his family through his observations of them. There was so much love packed into the pages that I was honestly tearing up a bit. The warmth conveyed by the author was wonderful and it showed a family that loved and cared for one another. Getting a glimpse into this family's lives was fascinating, and I thoroughly appreciated their interactions.
One aspect of the book that I did not care for was how preachy it was. The author seems to be utilizing the book as a proverbial soapbox from which to preach her opinions to the readers. However, in the grand scheme of things, this was a minor flaw, as I generally appreciated the book.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars because it was a good attempt at demonstrating how people cope with bereavement and move on with their lives. This book provided an excellent illustration of how to find the positive in any situation, no matter how horrible it may be. However, my enjoyment of the book was hampered by several typos and grammatical errors. I would suggest that it goes through another round of editing to iron out the kinks. I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost a child, especially an infant. It is an insightful read on how to cope with loss.
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Tre's Story
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