Hating Heidi Foster

Blount delivers an emotional exploration of the power of grief and loss in the story of 14-year-old Mae McBride. Ever since her father died saving her best friend Heidi Foster from a fire, Mae has been overcome with despair, unable to let go of her father or forgive Heidi. As Mae's depression deepens, she alienates her friends and family, earning the nickname "The Tragic One%E2%80%9D while she struggles to make sense of the world. The healing process is slow and painful, and Mae gradually finds strength to face the facts behind her father's sacrifice. But can she mend bridges with her former friend? While the story is framed as a recollection from an older Mae, the narrative struggles to find its voice, often seeming too mature for the moment, the distance of years blunting the otherwise overwhelming emotional black hole Mae wades through. For the story's slim page count, it packs in substantial drama and angst, tending to wallow in Mae's grief and despair. Ages 12%E2%80%93up.