The hole of the title represents the loss of our young narrator’s little brother, Matty. We can see it in the illustrations as a deep black scribble – it’s on the bed where Matty used to sleep, at the family’s table. It goes with them to school too, where some of the other kids don’t see it, some ignore it, some have holes of their own. It’s only when the child jumps into the hole, and in the echoey space expresses all their feelings - of anger and resentment as well as grief - that they start to feel better, and a conversation about Matty with best friend Nora helps even more.
The final pages offer an uplifting sense of hope and reminder that those we love are never really gone. This child-centred explanation of loss and ways to cope when someone you live dies, will be of huge help to any young person going through the experience, and provides an excellent starting point for conversations about the subject for all young people. The illustrations are warm and reassuring, perfectly pitched for the subject.
A powerful and profoundly moving picture book story about grief that is perfect for opening up conversations about loss with young readers
A little boy has a big hole in his life after his brother's death. It's in the bottom bunk where Matty used to sleep, and on Matty's chair at dinner.
It follows him everywhere - and he hates it.
But with the help of a friend, he manages to climb into the hole and confront his grief - the sadness, the anger, and the simple truth of how much he misses his brother. And when he finally feels ready to share stories about Matty again, he realises he can find some comfort in filling the hole with his favourite memories.
This beautifully written and stunningly illustrated story uses a direct and thoughtful metaphor to explain the grieving process for young readers, and demonstrates the importance of friendship, support, and the power of talking about your feelings.
Lindsay Bonilla is a professional storyteller and author whose previous picture books include The Storyteller, Parents' Choice Award winner Polar Bear Island, I Love You with All of My Hearts and The Note Who Faced the Music. She lives with her husband, two wild and creative kids and her dog, Blitzen, in North Canton, Ohio.
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