Key Selling Points

• A young girl befriends a boy who hasn’t spoken since his parents were killed in a car accident.
• Sorry For Your Loss examines themes of grieving, friendship and the nature of family.
• This book shows a behind-the-scenes view of what happens after someone dies. The author's father runs a Jewish funeral home, which served as inspiration for the setting of the novel.
• The author has written several other middle-grade novels and has been nominated for the Red Maple Award and the Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Awards.
• This book has all the elements of an excellent middle-grade story: an unusual setting; diverse, relatable characters; and the perfect blend of humor and pathos.
• Free Discussion Guide available for download at orcabook.com.

? “A heartfelt and expertly written tale of loss, family, and friendship that will have readers blinking back their tears…Beautiful and sincere.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Evie Walman is not obsessed with death. She does think about it a lot, though, but only because her family runs a Jewish funeral home. At twelve, Evie already knows she’s going to be a funeral director when she grows up. So what if the kids at school call her “corpse girl” and say she smells like death? They’re just mean and don’t get how important it is to have someone take care of things when your world is falling apart. Evie loves dusting caskets, polishing pews, and vacuuming the chapel—and on funeral days, she dresses up and hands out tissues and offers her condolences to mourners. She doesn’t normally help her parents with the grieving families directly, until one day when they ask her to help with Oren, a boy who was in a horrific car accident that killed both his parents. Oren refuses to speak and Evie, who is nursing her own private grief, is determined to find a way to help him deal with his loss.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Praise for previous books by Joanne Levy:

“Levy's narrative is spot on.”—Booklist review for The Sun Will Come Out

“The story gives voice to the experience of Jewish preteens; chronic illness and disability are also sensitively tackled in this complex tale about difference, acceptance, and self-confidence. A heartfelt tear-jerker about love, friendship, and courage.”—Kirkus Reviews review for The Sun Will Come Out

“Uplifting, gentle…Exudes inter-generational warmth, family love, and friendship.”—Association of Jewish Libraries review for Fish Out of Water

“Though brief, this text masterfully connects the toxic masculinity to its roots in deep misogyny, making Fish a hero people of all genders can stand up and cheer for. All readers will appreciate this book’s nuanced messaging around gender roles and trusting yourself.”—Kirkus Reviews, review for Fish Out of Water