Getting Near to Baby

"Getting Near to Baby" tells the story of 12-year-old Willa Jo and Little Sister, whose voice is "lost in sadness," who go live with bossy Aunt Patty following the death of their baby sister. It focuses on Willa Jo who finds haven on the roof and from sunrise to sunset recalls recent events and helps her family come to terms with its tragedy.

"This quiet and unassuming novel perfectly captures a family's feelings of loss and its abject grief. Couloumbis uses flashbacks, both poignant and humorous, to show how the quirky characters fitfully explore conflicting emotions and begin to heal."