5 Stages of Grief

Seventeen-year-old Josephine Sterling always believed grief came in five stages. Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance. But after the sudden death of her mother, she realizes grief doesn't follow a formula. It's messy. It's personal. And for her, it comes in the form of five unexpected places.

When her father's job forces them to move constantly in the year following the loss, Josephine finds herself living in five different states. Each move brings a new beginning she doesn't ask for and a new version of herself she barely recognizes. In Arizona, she distracts herself with dry heat and silence. In Oregon, she lashes out at everyone who tries to understand her. In Louisiana, she searches for signs from her mother and bargains with memories. In Vermont, the weight of everything she hasn't said begins to sink in. And in California, she finally starts to let go, even when she's not sure she's ready. Will she finally find her peace?

Told through intimate reflections, "5 States of Grief" is a moving novel about loss, identity, and finding peace in the most unexpected places.