Willa Joe is up on the roof at Aunt Patty's house. She went up to see the sunrise, and Little Sister followed her, like she always does. But by mid-morning, Willa Jo is still up on that roof, and she knows it wasn't just the sunrise that brought her there. Audrey ouloumbis has perfectly captured the pervasive feelings that can take hold when tragedy strikes—and the slow, subtle revelations that come when one can finally get near to the source.

Audrey Couloumbis was born in Illinois. Her book Getting Near to Baby was awarded a Newbery Honor in 2000.