That’s all Em (Emilia) wants to do – remember her dad. She doesn’t want to think about her mum’s breakdown, the new school she is attending or the way her uniform is different from everyone else. The last think she wants to think about is the accident that took her dad and caused the fallout she is now living in.

Blaming herself for the accident, worrying about her mum and discovering that her favourite place to remember her dad has been made off-limits with a rahui, Em is struggling to cope.

There is a nikau palm where her and dad would sit under every summer, and one day he’d even told her of the time he’d met a mermaid there. Em loved the story but never quite believed it. At least until the day she ignored the track’s closed off signs and visited her special tree. She remembers her dad’s laugh, and with a shimmer, the mermaid appears.

The mermaid is looking for something. Something that sounds like a strange black stone Em found while beach combing. Surely she is imagining it? Just remembering her dad has conjured this hallucination?

As she tries to work it out, fit into school, and deal with her guilt on her own, things begin to change. She tentatively makes friends, begins to rebuild her confidence and even shares her guilt about the accident. Em knows she must visit the nikau again, if only to take the black stone, but someone has been watching her. Will he keep her from the mermaid and her memories? Her friends have other ideas.

Just Remember is a story of loss, grief, guilt and a memory of a mermaid tale. A strange black stone, visions of a mermaid and new friendship begin to heal a young girl’s heart and confidence. This gives her the strength to face what has been holding her down – her guilt over her father’s accident.

The main character Em has already been on a journey through her loss, her mum’s breakdown and having to step up to look after them both, but living with her Nan (where her dad grew up) allows Em to find herself again.

Short chapters, a steady pace, with challenges many kids face about fitting in, Just Remember is perfect for Intermediate age (Yr 5-6) up. Mix in a crime being committed, a little magic and a lot of hope and this is an enjoyable quick read.

Author – Donna Blaber

Age – 11+

Read a review for another book by Donna Blaber here

Find your own copy here

(2021, Beach, Loss, Grief, Car Accident, Guilt, Family, Dad, Blame, New School, Fitting in, Confidence, Rahui, Connection, Magic, Mermaid, Hope, NZ, New Zealand, Matapouri, Friendship)