Embracing the Darkness: A Guide to Making Friends with the Night

Making friends with the dark can be a challenging task, especially if you are afraid of it. However, it is possible to build a friendly relationship with the dark by changing the way you perceive it. In this article, we will explore some tips and tricks to help you become more comfortable with the darkness and form a positive connection with it.

Firstly, it is important to understand that the dark is not always a scary or negative thing. In fact, darkness can be calming, peaceful and even beautiful. Take the time to appreciate the beauty of the night sky, the flickering of a candle or the warm glow of a fire. By embracing and enjoying the positive aspects of the dark, you can begin to shift your mindset and develop a sense of comfort around it.

Making Friends with the Dark is an emotionally charged and thought-provoking young adult novel that explores the themes of grief, loss, and resilience. Written by Kathleen Glasgow, this novel follows the journey of a 16-year-old protagonist, Grace, who has experienced the sudden death of her mother and is struggling to come to terms with this traumatic event.

In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive summary of Making Friends with the Dark. We will delve into the plot, the characters, and the overall message that this novel conveys. So, let’s get started!

1. The Tragic Event

Making Friends with the Dark opens with the sudden death of Grace’s mother. This event sets the stage for the rest of the novel, as Grace is left to navigate the aftermath of such a traumatic loss.

2. The Absent Father

As Grace’s only surviving relative, her father is forced to take her in and assume the role of her primary caregiver. However, he has been largely absent from her life, and their relationship is strained and distant.

3. The Struggle With Grief

Throughout the novel, Grace grapples with her grief and the intense emotions that come with it. She experiences anger, guilt, isolation, and a sense of abandonment, all of which are perfectly normal reactions to such a significant loss.

4. The Importance of Friendship

Despite her isolation, Grace forms unexpected friendships with two other teenage girls who guide her through her grief process. Through their company, Grace is able to find moments of joy and learn to let go of some of her burden.

5. The Burden of Responsibility

As the main caregiver, Grace’s father is faced with the burden of taking care of Grace and helping her navigate her grief. Despite his own grief and struggle, he tries his best to support her.

6. The Exploration of Identity

In her journey through grief, Grace also explores her own identity, her sexuality, and her relationship with her mother. She begins to understand that her mother’s death has played a significant role in shaping who she is and how she sees the world.

7. The Healing Process

Over time, Grace begins to heal as she explores new friendships and new hobbies. She practices self-care and learns to manage her emotions, even as she tries to figure out how to move forward.

8. The Importance of Communication

Throughout the novel, communication plays a crucial role in Grace’s healing process. Through talking to her friends and her father, she is able to express her emotions and work through her grief.

9. The Power of Hope

Despite the intense pain of grief, Making Friends with the Dark ultimately conveys a message of hope. Grace learns to embrace the present and look towards the future, even as she remembers and honors her mother’s memory.

10. The Final Revelation

The novel concludes with a revelation that ties up loose ends, while also emphasizing the importance of family and the strength of the human spirit. Making Friends with the Dark is a powerful and moving novel that explores the complexities of human emotions and the power of resiliency. It is a must-read for anyone interested in YA contemporary fiction and coming-of-age stories.

10 Steps to Understanding “How to Make Friends with the Dark”

Are you looking for a great read that explores the themes of loss, family, and learning to cope with life’s challenges? Then you should consider picking up Jenn Bishop’s 2019 YA novel “How to Make Friends with the Dark”. In this article, we’re going to provide you with a brief “How to Make Friends with the Dark” summary and a few key takeaways from the book. Here are the 10 steps to help you understand “How to Make Friends with the Dark”:

1. Meet Grace.

Grace is the main protagonist of the book, and she is a typical teenager who loves music, reading, and hanging out with her best friend, Savanna. She lives with her single mother, Maggie, and their life is relatively ordinary until Maggie passes away unexpectedly.

2. Experience Grief First-Hand.

When Maggie dies, Grace is forced to confront grief and the ways it affects her. The novel explores the devastating effects of losing someone close to you and how it can impact all areas of your life.

3. Join Grace on her Journey of Self-Discovery.

After Maggie’s death, Grace must navigate her new life without her mother’s guidance and tries to uncover a deeper understanding of herself. Her journey of self-discovery leads her to confront her fears, embrace her own identity, and accept help from others.

4. Explore the Complex Relationship between Grace and Maggie.

“How to Make Friends with the Dark” examines the relationship between mother and daughter, from both Grace’s perspective and that of Maggie’s. As Grace contemplates what might have been different if Maggie were still alive, she also learns things about her mother she never knew before.

5. Discover the Impact of Loss on the Individual and the Family.

The novel takes a deep dive into the impact of loss, not just on the individual but on family dynamics as well. Grace’s aunt and grandparents endeavor to take her into their care, but navigating their own grief proves difficult when it comes to providing the support Grace needs.

6. Learn the Importance of Self-Care.

“How to Make Friends with the Dark” shows how important self-care is when dealing with grief and loss. Grace gradually learns how to take care of herself and start the healing process by turning to healthy outlets such as writing, running, and spending time with supportive friends.

7. Witness the Power of Friendship.

As Grace struggles to come to terms with her mother’s death and find her place in the world, she finds solace and support in some of her friends and peers. The novel sensitively explores how friendship can be a powerful force that helps individuals heal and find a sense of belonging.

8. Experience a Realistic and Compelling Story.

“How to Make Friends with the Dark” is a compelling and realistic story that explores the complex themes of grief, family, friendship, and self-discovery. Jenn Bishop writes in a way that effectively conveys the emotions of her characters while keeping a steady pace to the story.

9. Gain Insight into Grieving and Healing.

The novel offers a unique insight into the grieving and healing process, exploring the many stages of grief and how it affects different people. It is a helpful read for anyone who has lost someone close to them and is struggling to come to terms with the loss.

10. Find Hope for the Future.

Despite the tragic events that unfold in the book, “How to Make Friends with the Dark” is ultimately a story of hope. By the end of the novel, Grace has gained a newfound strength and resilience that will help her face whatever challenges lie ahead.

In conclusion, “How to Make Friends with the Dark” is a beautifully written book that tackles an emotionally difficult subject in a sensitive and engaging manner. It explores themes that are universal to all and offers valuable insights into the grieving and healing process. We hope this summary and our 10-step guide has inspired you to go out and read it for yourself!

Understanding the Theme of “How to Make Friends with the Dark”

As we dive deeper into the novel “How to Make Friends with the Dark,” it becomes evident that the theme is about coping with grief and loss. In this section, we will discuss some of the main themes and topics that the author, Kathleen Glasgow, intricately mentions in her novel.

The Death of a Loved One

The protagonist, Tiger, faces many difficulties after her mother suddenly passes away. The young girl is suddenly thrown into the deep end, forced to face a world full of fear and responsibility. Glasgow explores the ongoing difficulties that can arise after losing someone you love. She masterfully details the feeling of a hole left behind by a loved one.

Mental Illness and Grief

“Make Friends with the Dark” addresses the long-lasting consequences of grief and mental health problems. In the novel, Glasgow effectively portrays the emotional turmoil that can follow a mental illness diagnosis. The novel effectively narrates how the protagonist Tiger tries to decipher and understand her own grief and mental health problems.

The Importance of Family Support

Glasgow touches on the importance of family support in dealing with grief and loss. When Tiger’s mother dies, her aunt, uncle, and grandmother take over and guide her through the disaster. She doesn’t have a biological family, but with the help of her newfound family, she is empowered to face the world.

The Long-term Effects of Loss

The Novel makes an in-depth observation about the long-term effects of loss and grief. The depiction of how Tiger copes with her mom’s passing and still trying to find a way to live a normal life will leave readers emotionally invested in her journey. Glasgow tells a story of hope and retrospection, showing how the hurt of grief is a never-ending process.

Conclusion

Through the novel “How to Make Friends with the Dark,” Glasgow explores the complexities of losing someone close to you. She manages to capture the essence of what it feels like to grieve through the eyes of a 15-year-old girl. Glasgow expertly portrays the many nuanced aspects of the grieving process and the importance of family support. Her work serves as a beacon of light and hope for all readers that are struggling to cope with loss.

Happy Adventures in the Dark

That’s the end of our guide on “how to make friends with the dark”. We hope that this article has given you a new perspective on the darkness and inspired you to embrace it instead of fearing it. Remember, the dark is not scary, it’s just a different kind of light. With these simple tips, you can make your journey through the dark an exciting and fulfilling experience. So go ahead and give it a try! Thank you for reading, and we hope to see you again soon for more tips and tricks on how to live your best life. Take care and happy adventures in the dark!