Eleven

This new young adult novel uses diary entries and vivid poems to show one young woman's personal journey through family tragedy.

Twelve-year-old Anga Freedom can't help but beam when her aunt Ky gets her an early dismissal from school. Her mother is about to have a baby, and Anga is about to become a big sister

But when Anga arrives at the hospital, she is devastated to learn the truth. Her mother has suffered a miscarriage. What was meant to be a day of celebration turns into one of grief.

It isn't the only dark day ahead for the twelve-year-old. Not long after the family tragedy, Anga's mother is diagnosed with oral cancer. Anga moves in with her grandmother as her mother begins treatment. She knows that this is supposed to help her mother rest and recover, but she can't help feeling frustrated and isolated because of the distance. At the same time, Anga is ill equipped to handle seeing her mother in such a delicate state. She will have to discover new ways of supporting her mother and coping with a new life full of hospital visits, doctor's appointments, and difficult moments.