title: Love Letters to the Dead: A Novel
author:  Ava Dellaira 
description: Gr 9 UpDebut author Dellaira's heart-wrenching epistolary novel begins with Laurel's freshman assignment to write a letter to a dead person. She starts with a missive to Kurt Cobain, who had been a favorite of her recently deceased older sister, May. Gradually, through the teen's letters to other dead celebrities (Janis Joplin, Amelia Earhart, River Phoenix, and more), readers will begin to piece together the history of her splintered family life, including her parents' divorce and mother's virtual abandonment following May's unexplained death. Laurel is devastatingly, emotionally fragile, but she makes friends at her new high school and even starts to develop a serious love interest. Her misconstrued hero-worship of May gradually evolves into a deeper understanding of her beloved sister's strengths and many imperfections. Beautifully written, although a bit choppy in sections, particularly regarding the dead addressees' lives, this powerful novel deftly illustrates the concept that writing is an especially valuable form of healing for those dealing with overwhelming pain and grief. Best for teens who enjoyed Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower (MTV, 1999).Susan Riley, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY
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  Copyright 2018 Giana Darling
  Published by Giana Darling
   
  Edited by Jenny Sims
  Cover Design by Najla Qamber
  Cover Model Mariam Agredano
  Cover Photographer Xavi Smoke
  Formatting by Stacey at Champagne Book Design
   
   
  License Notes
  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like
  to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not
  purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favourite retailer and
  purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
   
  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
  
  Table of Contents
  Title Page
  Copyright
  Dedication
  Epigraph
   
  Part One
  Chapter One
  Chapter Two
  Chapter Three
  Part Two
  Chapter Four
  Chapter Five
  Chapter Six
  Chapter Seven
  Cha