WAY PAST SORRY

A broken promise results in a class trip fraught with tension between two friends.

Kat agreed to sit with Sage on the bus ride to the planetarium but instead sits with Meera, leaving Sage alone—and deeply hurt. Kat is way past sorry but can’t seem to make it right. “Sage’s hurt feelings felt red on my face and tight in my chest.” Things go from bad to worse as Kat’s guilt and self-defense mechanisms kick in. Instead of apologizing, Kat runs away when confronted by Sage. Kat’s regret is “bigger than the night sky,” and the child wishes for the chance to start the day over. Finally, at lunch, Sage agrees to listen to Kat, and together they "unpack…the sorry like a heavy backpack.” Adelman’s newest addition to her Great Big Feelings series reintroduces some familiar characters from previous titles while focusing on Kat and Sage as they work through the tangled emotions of guilt, regret, and hurt. The simple, first-person declarative statements are interspersed with poetic reflections as the author explores how to recognize a wrong and make amends. Juli’s bold, childlike illustrations effectively portray the angst seeping across the pages. Kat, Sage, and Meera are brown-skinned and dark-haired; their classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Realistically conveys the healing power of a heartfelt apology.