SuitabookBecoming Brave
Jennie Cashman Wilson
- Reading
- Read in short pauses, allowing time after Abram’s death for questions or quiet. Return to the illustrations and author’s note, then connect courage to a child’s own experiences without requiring personal disclosure.
- Themes
- Courage alongside fear: Jennie worries about being good enough, while the book presents fear as something that can accompany brave choices. Courage is framed positively, not as the absence of fear; Abram’s example influences Jennie’s understanding of bravery.
- Love and bereavement: Jennie and Abram fall in love, then Abram dies; the narrative follows Jennie’s experience of grief and life afterwards. Bereavement is treated as a significant lived experience, with an emphasis on Jennie’s emotional journey rather than on plot suspense.
- Turning remembrance into opportunity: Jennie establishes a charity in Abram’s name to open opportunities for disadvantaged and minoritised young musicians. The charity is presented as a constructive response connected to Abram’s memory and to supporting young people’s creative opportunities.
- Worth knowing
- The death of a partner and the surrounding grief are central, while the book’s gentle and uplifting framing may not suit every moment. Consider reading together if bereavement feels especially close.