A children’s novel by Summerland author Rie Charles looks at the way people come to terms with loss.
A Hole in My Heart will be released next month.
The story, for readers from 10 to 13 years of age, is set in British Columbia in 1959.
Nora, the 12-year-old main character, and her family have moved from Penticton to North Vancouver, after the death of her mother.
Her cousin in Penticton is facing surgery to correct a hole in her heart. Open heart surgery was in its infancy at that time, since the first surgery of this kind in British Columbia was in 1958.
As Nora faces the aftermath of the loss of her mother, issues adjusting to a new community and her friend’s impending surgery, she and her family are pushed to talk about the issues of loss.
This is Charles’ second novel. Her first, No More Dragons, was published in 2010 and examines bullying.
The launch for the book is at Hooked on Books in Penticton on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Charles will also have readings from the book in September. On Sept. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m., she will be at Mosaic Books in Kelowna and on Sept. 28, she will be at Chapters in Kelowna.