Glitter Gets Everywhere, Yvette Clark - Grief, Moving, and Family

Summary: Glitter Gets Everywhere

In Glitter Gets Everywhere, Kitty Wentworth is grappling with the grief of losing her mother to lung cancer (even though she never smoked). Her older sister Imogen seems to be coping better and her dad just seems a bit lost. Thankfully, they have their grandmother and a baking enthusiast neighbor Ms. Allison to keep their moods up and care for them. Ms. Allison is also gearing up to start filming The Great British Bake-Off as a contestant. But Kitty’s world shifts when her father gets a work opportunity in New York and wants her and Imogen to move.

The Good

This book takes a common, albeit important theme (parental death) and puts a thoughtful, enjoyable twist on the aftermath. Kitty is dealing with a lot of grief about her mother’s death, but she’s not alone: she has loving (even funny) adults in her life. Her dad is out of sorts but still present and attentive. And the move to London adds an air of excitement to the story. Plus, Ms. Allison being on GBBO — what a unique, fun narrative!

It’s worth noting that about half of this story is set in London (which I was a bit disappointed by, because I did want more NYC scenes), so if you like books set in Europe, this one will fill that void. The London scenes are cozy, reflective and very family-centered, while the NYC scenes are more vibrant as Kitty makes new connections and has new experiences.

Other things I liked about this story were the girls seeing a therapist (yay for therapy-positive books), the musings on death and grief, and Kitty’s friendship with Henry (the blue-haired boy) whose dad is a famous actor. I also liked seeing Kitty’s dad befriend a new woman with a son and the hints we get of a potential blended family.

Overall: Glitter Gets Everywhere

Glitter Gets Everywhere is an excellent middle grade novel about the grief of losing a parent in death and how that grief never really goes away. Yet, the book maintains an impressive levity by including joyful adults in Kitty’s life, a realistic sister relationship, an exciting cross-continental move, and a new friendship that widens Kitty’s lens on life. This is a sweet debut that I would totally recommend.