Ola's Wake — B.J. Stone

A tender novel about a young girl's growing awareness and acceptance of death, after the loss of her great-grandmother.I wished I could talk to Ola and get to know her. There she was, all laid out in her pretty pink bed, looking like she was asleep in her best clothes.When ten-year-old Josie's Great Granny Ola passes away, Josie and her mom travel from Texas to the Missouri Ozarks to pay their respects. But Josie wishes she didn't have to go—she'd never even met Ola, and she doesn't know how to feel or what to expect.At the wake, friends and family swap colorful tales about Ola—like the time she lost her berries to a bear, or the way she played her juice harp at the county fair. And of course, there were her famous fried apple pies. Over the next few days, Josie begins to feel special when she realizes that even though she never knew Great Granny Ola when she was alive, they share a lot in common—their stubbornness, their creativity, and most of all, their fiery spirit.This comforting and sensitive novel explores death in all its complexities, and celebrates the memories, storytelling, and family connections that unite young and old.