Description
Sophie loves her granny more than she loves stars or books or her hamster. And when Granny passes away, Sophie misses her more than she can say. The flowers Sophie brings to Granny’s grave always fade too soon. When Sophie learns that some people place stones on loved ones’ graves, because stones last forever, she has an idea for a special way to remember Granny and the times they shared.
Author Bio
KATHY KACER’s award-winning list of Holocaust fiction and non-fiction for young readers includes The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser (winner of the OLA Silver Birch Award), The Diary of Laura’s Twin (winner of the National Jewish Book Council Award [US] and the Canadian Jewish Book Award), Hiding Edith (winner of the OLA Silver Birch Award, the Sydney Taylor Book Award [Association of Jewish Libraries], and the Yad Vashem Award for Children’s Holocaust Literature [Israel]), and To Look a Nazi in the Eye (a Sydney Taylor Honor Book for Teens). Her books have been published and translated in twenty countries. Kathy Kacer is the child of Holocaust survivors, and the parent of two actors and musical theatre performers. For more information, please go to www.kathykacer.com
Prizes
- IODE Jean Throop Book AwardShort-listed 2026
Review Quotes
"The illustrations in Memory Stones are both thoughtful and engaging and help to highlight the importance of Sophie's need to create a meaningful memory of her Granny. The author's note at the back of the book gives examples of items that are traditionally left on graves in different countries, cultures, and religions."
— Canadian Teacher Magazine"Kathy Kacer has woven a poignant story around a child’s initial experience with grief and loss….Not only is the Author’s Note about the customs of different countries, cultures, and religions regarding what to leave on a grave informative, but it also underscores the importance of commemorating a loved one in some significant manner. Hayley Lowe’s perceptive illustrations, created with pencil/graphite sticks and Procreate, ably juxtapose the joyful experiences shared between a grandmother and grandchild with the solemn, reflective atmosphere that follows a loss of great consequence."
— CCBC Book News"...Kathy Kacer has provided a template on how to help a child through their grief. While the death of a grandparent is often tied up with heartache, illustrator Hayley Lowe uses pencil, gouache and digital tools in subdued but heartfelt colours to blend the sombreness of bereavement with the memories of pleasure derived from a special relationship. For children who will experience a loss, Memory Stones will reassure them that they can be empowered to make personal choices that may offer comfort and even uplift, whether with the placement of memory stones or with reminiscing about cherished moments."
— CanLit for Little Canadians, Helen Kubiw