A Taste of Blackberries

A Taste of Blackberries, written by Doris Buchanan Smith, is narrated by a young boy who is keenly aware of all the events that swirl around him. His is an innocent voice struggling with the fact of his best friend's death, yet, it is through his eyes that the reader bears witness to Jamie's tragedy, the grieving of Jamie's mother, and his funeral that follows. Charles Robinson's simple illustrations capture the loneliness and confusion expressed by the narrator with haunting precision. This is a book that speaks frankly of death and yet with enough care to help the reader understand the grief it causes. Grades 3-5