After Annie by Anna Quindlen

Bill loses his wife suddenly and their four children lose their mom. This is the story of the year after when they all go to pieces and find the glue to put the pieces back together. Ali is the oldest and only girl who must now somehow fill the huge gap her mother left behind. Her dad is floundering, her grandmother is not a help and even her mom's best friend can't solve everything. In true Anna Quindlen fashion the characters are real with all the pain, love and anger that comes with grief. She does not sugar coat that death is hard but there is always hope and a not perfect solution to getting up and getting through each day. An honest coming of age story of love, family and friendship. For readers of Ann Patchett, Amy Bloom and Laura Ziegler.  4 stars