My Father's Words

Declan O’Brien always had a gentle word to share, odd phrases he liked to repeat, and songs to sing while he played basketball. His favorite song was "Dona Nobis Pacem," “Grant Us Peace.” His family loved him deeply and always knew they were loved in return.

But a terrible accident one day changes their lives forever, and Fiona and Finn O’Brien are left without a father. Their mother is at a loss. What words are there to guide them through such overwhelming grief?

At the suggestion of their friend Luke, Fiona and Finn volunteer at an animal rescue shelter, where they meet two sweet dogs who are in need of comfort, too. Perhaps with time, patience, and their father’s gentle words in their hearts, hope will spark once more.

* Junior Library Guild Selection * Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year 2019 (9-12) *

How do you find your way forward when the person who guided you is gone?

• Dealing with Grief: Follow siblings Fiona and Finn as they navigate the silence left behind by their father’s sudden death.
• Animal Rescue Shelter: The two discover that helping abandoned dogs at a local shelter might be the first step to healing their own hearts.
• The Power of Words: A touching look at how a father’s memory—his favorite phrases and songs—can become a guide through the darkest times.
• Finding Hope and Healing: A lyrical and moving novel from a Newbery Medal-winning author, perfect for young readers processing their own feelings about love and loss.