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Twins Belle and Chloe were best friends who shared the same interests, hobbies, and friends. They were virtually inseparable until Belle was horribly burned during an accident. Belle spent many months in the hospital, isolated from outside visitors due to the risk of infection. Her pain and bandages prevented her from being able to even feed herself. When Belle was finally able to return home, she still needed a level of care that required nearly all of her parents’ energy and attention. Happy to have her sister home, Chloe made every effort to make life easier for Belle. Chloe brought home her sister’s school assignments and helped with her homework. When she heard Belle crying in the middle of the night, Chloe would comfort her sister with snuggles. But as Belle’s fears and insecurities over her scarred appearance grew, the twins began to grow apart.
Sardas uses her twenty-five years as a licensed clinical psychologist treating childhood and adolescent psychiatric disorders to deliver a story of overcoming depression and anxiety as a result of childhood trauma. This story demonstrates the physical and psychological toll that trauma takes on the entire family and explores the need for open communication and sharing of one’s emotional needs. The book explains the advantages of psychotherapy and family counseling in a way that young readers will appreciate and understand. The author also subtly presents the therapeutic benefits of support animals. Perhaps the most powerful moment in the book is Chloe’s decision to get henna tattoos as an act of solidarity with her sister and a physical representation of Belle’s scars as beautiful body art. This is a wonderful illustration of trading beauty for ashes that leaves an indelible impression on the minds and in the hearts of readers long after the story concludes.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review