Lemon Drop Falls: "Brave the Sour to Taste the Sweet"

Lemon Drop Falls is a middle grades chapter book by debut author, Heather Clark.   Morgan's mom always had a plan for everything.  Except when she passes away unexpectedly she tells Morgan to make sure her younger siblings are looked after and are happy.  In this way she transfers the pressures she faced to her 12 year old daughter.  Morgan does everything in her power to take care of her younger siblings, who are quite a handful.  Whenever she gets in a bind, she thinks back to what her mom would do in that situation.  For example, when someone in the family had a tough problem, her mom would pull out the jar of lemon drops and they'd talk about it or just be together through the rough patch.  

Only now, there is no mom and Morgan feels like she's drowning.  Her father has always been used to her mom taking care of everything down to the last detail so he has no clue how to run their household.  It's up to Morgan to go without her plans for the summer soccer team and unsure of how to mend her fragile friendships before the new school year begins in a new middle school.  Each chapter of the story is either a flashback to before her mom passed away or the present where Morgan is trying her hardest to keep everything on track. When her dad suggests that they take a camping trip, Morgan's anxiety and stress overflow to where she is in danger.  

This important story is good for young people and teachers and parents to read to understand how OCD and anxiety can get worse if not treated.  I wish this book had been around when I was younger so I could better cope with changing friendships, puberty, and even grief.  We had Heather Clark join a 4th grade class at my school for an author visit and she was phenomenal with the students.  She encouraged them to write what they know and what they're interested in. I highly recommend this book for upper elementary students and middle school libraries.