The Girl Death Left Behind

by Lurlene McDaniel

Genres: YA Coming of Age

Synopsis

Readers will be touched and inspired by this latest novel from bestselling author Lurlene McDaniel:

Beth's world has been torn apart.  She cannot figure out how to go on when a car accident claims the lives of her entire family, and she is the only survivor.  Things seem to get even worse when she moves in with her aunt and her spoiled cousin, Terri.  But with the love and support of her aunt and some unexpected friends, Beth struggles to overcome the despair that threatens to consume her.  Will she be able to move past the painful memories without feeling guilty for being a survivor?

Release date: December 18, 2007

Publisher: Laurel Leaf

Print pages: 192

Sample

Beth held her aunt's hand, and Faye went with them. The walk down the hall seemed endless. Once they were inside the small cubicle, Dr. Higdon said, "Please sit down."

"I don't want to sit," Beth said. She was angry at the doctor who'd kept her waiting so long.

"How are my sister and brother-in-law?" her aunt asked. "And their two children. Beth said they were in the accident too."

"Yes," the doctor said. "An ambulance brought in all four of them."

"I--I stayed home," Beth explained, although no one had asked her why she hadn't been in the van. "I had the flu."

"According to the police," the doctor said, "the van swerved from road and careened down a hill, rolled over, and smashed into a tree. The impact was severe. The Jaws of Life had to be used to open the car and extract the passengers."

Beth shuddered. "B-But they're all right, aren't they? You fixed them up, didn't you?"