In Memory of Dad (Literary Classics International Book Awards winner) [Kindle Edition]

Maranda Russell (Author)

Book Description

Kaley Jergins loved her life. She had it all, the perfect family, good friends, and the talent and passion to be a great ball player. However, when tragedy strikes and the person she loves most of all is no longer there, will she ever be able to play again?

Told with warmth and feeling, this story comes from an author who knows what it is like to deal with loss at a young age. Nothing is ever the same after a tragic loss, but maybe life can go on. Includes an afterword by the author about grief and how to deal with it in a healthy way.

Product Details

• File Size: 85 KB
• Print Length: 9 pages
• Publisher: Maranda Russell; 1 edition (August 28, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005JQBIII
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,764 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming story for youngsters who have suffered a loss September 4, 2011

By Lisa Hardy

Format:Kindle Edition

This is a short story written through the eyes of a child, and suited to any child I would say from about 7 and upwards.

It is based on the "story" of Kaley, who absolutely loves Basketball, and always supported by her father. Then tragedy strikes and life will never be the same again. Kaley turns her back on basketball.

It is a heartwarming short story for a child going through the same thing that Kaley has, and helps to show them that life doesn't have to end and that they are not alone.

For any child that has been through such a loss, I would recommend this short story for them. The author having been through something similar to herself, includes a passage at the end, where she talks about grief and how to come to terms with it, speaking from experience.

This book was provided for me to review by the author. No payment was received and the opinion of the book is entirely my own without influence.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful storyto share with children on how coping with grief September 3, 2011

By Donalisa

Format:Kindle Edition

This beautiful short story was definitely written from the heart. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. You could feel Kayla's love, grief and triumph through Maranda's eloquent descriptions. This is a wonderful story that shares a message of dealing with grief. The lesson that you can go on living life after you lose someone. So many times people feel guilty to feel joy after they have lost a love one. I have been looking for stories to share with my clients about coping with grief. Maranda shares this message effortlessly and in a way even young children can understand!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Ahgoo Review of In Memory of Dad August 30, 2011

By Ahgoo Review

Format:Kindle Edition

In Memory of Dad
by Maranda Russell

A nine year old girl named Kaley loves basketball. She loves the sound and feel of the ball, there is nothing about it she doesn't love. Her and her father always play basketball together, it's "their thing". When tragedy strikes and her father passes away she is left full of grief and confused. She no longer wants to play basketball and she is relieved when she turns in her jersey and quits the team. When the captain of the basketball team begs Kaley to come to a game she reluctantly agrees and she is glad that she does. This book is just .99 cents on Smashwords and is a great book for a child that is in need of coping with a loss close to them. It brought tears to my eyes because the subject matter is tender. A relationship between a little girl and her dad is a special and cherished relationship that is very important. I also really enjoyed Maranda's writing style. It was descriptive and touching and flowed smoothly from start to finish. Please follow the link below to purchase this book.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A read everyone can benefit from September 7, 2011

By Becks

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the simple, sweet story of a young girl named Kaley. She loved basketball, and loved her dad. When Kaley suddenly loses her father, she does not see how she can continue playing and enjoying basketball and still honor the memory of her father. With love and support from her friends and teammates, she realizes that continuing with her passion for what and who she loves is the perfect way to remember her father.

Bottom line, this is a wonderfully sweet story. You feel so much for Kaley, as well as her mother and her friends. Also, this is a great book to pass along to someone who is suffering from a loss. The author shares with the reader her own experience with loss at a young age, and how to cope with such grief. I highly recommend anyone share this story with someone who is trying to find the way to cope.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A great little story August 30, 2011

By Eileen Schuh

Format:Kindle Edition

Author Maranda Russell shares with her young readers a powerful lesson she learned as a child.

In her short story IN MEMORY OF DAD, young Kaley must learn to deal with the grief of losing her father. She must learn that finding joy in living doesn't tarnish her father's memory.

A great story--nicely paced and well written. The best life-lesson rests in the positive and uplifting ending.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story, meaningful and compassionate September 4, 2011

By Beate Epp

Format:Kindle Edition

Very well written and touching story about the love of father and child, loosing a loved one, and finding the way back to life.

We all need to find strength at times, strength we often forget we have, and especially if we loose someone very important in our lives, we are hit by this so much that we forget and don't see all the love that's around us.

Maranda desribed wonderfully how we can all deal with situations like this in a sensitive manner. Her voice is pure and simple, bringing us close to those things that are important in life.

We all can take something from this, but especially children who have to deal with a situation like this. There are so many things that can throw us off track, and dead is one of them. It is important to share the message that we are all connected and share one love for each other, so situations like this are easier to bear for all of us.

A good little story to share with those you love!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Story To Share With Your Children! September 9, 2011

By Jersey Girl Book Reviews / Jersey Girl Sizzling Book Reviews

Format:Kindle Edition

In Memory of Dad is a beautifully written short story for children dealing with the loss of a loved one, how they are not alone in their grief, and how life can go on with good memories of their loved one always in their heart.

The story is about Kaley Jergins, a fourth grader, who has a special relationship with her father, they both share a passion for playing basketball. Kaley's dad Kyle, used to play basketball when he was in school, and Kaley dreamed of following in his footsteps. One cold January night, Kaley's father suffered a fatal heart attack. Nothing would ever be the same again in her life! She tried to go on with her life, but everything reminded her of her dad. She started skipping basketball practices and games, and after a month went by she officially quit the team. She really missed playing ball and her teammates, but without her dad there to cheer her on, she just couldn't do it anymore, it had always been "their" thing. She felt empty and alone, she kept to herself at school, wishing there was a way she could still be on the team and be around her friends, but without her dad to share it with, it just didn't feel right. She wished she could go back in time to when everything in her life was fine. It took Drea, a friend and captain of the basketball team and her teammates, to show Kaley that she isn't alone, and that she could go forward with her life and still have the memory of her dad in her heart.

The author wrote a beautifully heartfelt story based loosely on her own real experience of losing her dad at the age of twelve. This story was written from her heart, and she so eloquently expresses her message and lesson that through dealing with loss and grief, your life will go on, and that your loved one will always be in your heart.... Her message is so easily expressed, that young children will be able to understand and learn from it. She reinforces her message in a very thoughtful and educational way in an Author's Note at the end of the book.

RATING: 4 STARS ****

Disclaimer: At the request of the author, a Kindle e-book edition of this book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review.
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More About the Author

Maranda Russell (1982-?) was born in Muncie, Indiana, but now resides near Dayton, Ohio. She is a children's author and book reviewer, a foster parent, a part-time substitute teacher and an enthusiastic lover of cereal and ice cream. She currently writes stories for children based on the experience she has gained as a teacher, foster parent and former child. Of course, the "former" part is questionable since this author still enjoys indulging her "inner child" on a regular basis.

To find out more about this author, her books and the daily challenges of being a writer and a foster parent, please visit her website, www.marandarussell.com.