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Willow Run: A Haunting Tale of Resilience and Loss by Patricia Reilly Giff

Chinua Achebe

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Published in Willow Run Patricia Reilly Giff

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Willow Run is a powerful and moving novel that tells the story of a young girl's struggle to come to terms with the loss of her father in the Vietnam War. Patricia Reilly Giff's writing is both lyrical and heart-wrenching, and she creates a vivid and memorable world that readers will not soon forget.

Willow Run

by Patricia Reilly Giff

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	281 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	162 pages

The Story

The novel is set in the small town of Willow Run, Pennsylvania, in the early 1970s. The protagonist, 12-year-old Sarah Jane, is struggling to cope with the death of her father, who was killed in action in Vietnam. Sarah Jane is haunted by memories of her father, and she often feels like she is living in a fog. She has difficulty sleeping, and she has lost interest in her friends and activities. Sarah Jane's mother is also struggling to cope with the loss of her husband. She is withdrawn and depressed, and she is unable to provide Sarah Jane with the support she needs.

Sarah Jane finds solace in the friendship of a new girl in town, Alison. Alison is also a military brat, and she has lost her father in the war. Alison understands Sarah Jane's pain, and she is able to help her to start to heal. Together, Sarah Jane and Alison learn to cope with their grief and to find hope for the future.

The Characters

Sarah Jane is a complex and well-developed character. She is a young girl who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her father. She is grieving, and she is trying to find her place in the world. Sarah Jane is a strong and resilient girl, and she is determined to overcome her grief and to build a happy life for herself. Alison is a kind and compassionate girl. She is a good friend to Sarah Jane, and she is always there for her. Alison is a strong and independent girl, and she is a role model for Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane's mother is a complex character. She is a grieving widow, and she is struggling to cope with the loss of her husband. She is withdrawn and depressed, and she is unable to provide Sarah Jane with the support she needs.

The Themes

Willow Run is a novel about grief, loss, and resilience. It is a story about the power of friendship and the importance of hope. Giff explores the complex emotions of grief, and she shows how these emotions can affect our lives. She also shows how it is possible to overcome grief and to find hope for the future.

The Writing

Patricia Reilly Giff is a gifted writer. Her writing is both lyrical and heart-wrenching, and she creates a vivid and memorable world that readers will not soon forget. Giff's characters are well-developed and relatable, and her story is both moving and inspiring.

The Verdict

Willow Run is a powerful and moving novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a story about grief, loss, and resilience. It is a story about the power of friendship and the importance of hope. Giff explores the complex emotions of grief, and she shows how these emotions can affect our lives. She also shows how it is possible to overcome grief and to find hope for the future.

I highly recommend Willow Run to anyone who is interested in a well-written and emotionally resonant story. It is a book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Willow Run

by Patricia Reilly Giff

4.5 out of 5