This story is an allegory and does not describe a real family. It shows what happened to Laura and Ned when their mother Liz died suddenly. It describes how they and their father Andy coped with their changing feelings over the first year following her death. Through the kindly medium of the "halo" - made of love and light and memories - the members of the family cope with their feelings in their own individual ways. As part of this they enact a mourning ritual - a "special goodbye" - which helps the whole family begin to integrate this terrible loss into their lives. This story is intended to be a resource for young bereaved children, their families and the professional people involved. Notes on the text are provided throughout to help readers to use this book more effectively. | 
