Matylda, Bright and Tender

Fourth graders Sussy and Guy are best friends. They do everything together and tell each other everything. One day, they decide they need a pet. But what to get? There are so many options. A guinea pig? A bird? When Guy suggests a leopard gecko, Sussy reluctantly agrees. They decide to name her Matylda and give her a cool origin story. In the story, Matylda was a warrior lizard held in captivity by an evil king who made the lizards fight to the death for his entertainment. When Matylda won her fiftieth duel, she was allowed to go free and have a wish granted!

A few weeks later, tragedy strikes. Sussy must find a way to go on with Matylda while coping with the hole in her heart that Guy left behind. For Sussy, life will never be the same. Sussy starts stealing treats and toys for Matylda in order to make the gecko happy. Maybe if she keeps Matylda happy and makes Matylda love her, she can hold on to Guy.

This book was a sweet and beautiful story about going forward despite tragic losses.