The space we're in by Katya Balen.

The space we're in by Katya Balen. Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House 2019. 

I read it because the subject headings said it was about death and grief. Which it is. But is so much more.

The first third, or so, of the book sets up the family dynamic.

Told in the first person by Frank, you meet his family: Mum, Dad, Granny M and Max - his younger brother. Max is autistic and sometimes Frank is ashamed. Impatient. Resentful. All normal.

Then, their mother dies.

The family members' grief is honestly portrayed. Their father's inability to cope - to even make a pretence of coping. Until Frank loses it. And they begin to come together, to make it work. Even though there is a huge part of their lives missing.

The friends and family and support workers are all people, with characters - even if they only have small roles in the story.

It is a truly magical and beautiful book.