How to Make Friends with the Dark

*♾️/5.

This was an excellent story. We follow Tiger who lost her mother, and now has to live without her mother. I genuinely appreciated this story. The author shows you how the foster care system really is, how life after losing someone could possibly be. I found myself having sympathy for Tiger. It was literally one thing after another for her.

Another thing I loved about this story was how well-written all of the characters were. There wasn't one boring person in this book. They were all filled with personality. This made me feel more connected to not just the characters, but the book as a whole.

I'm very appreciative of this book. This is because the author doesn't try to sugarcoat what really happens in the foster system, she doesn't sugarcoat how some parents treat their children. As painful as the above is, she was real about it, and that's something that needs to be talked about, painful or not. Because outside of this book it is also someone else's history.

I actually can't believe I'm giving this less than 5 stars!!
my biggest issue with this was Tiger's mom was really manipulative & borderline abusive and it was just?? never addressed??? there is a slight explanation in the end but other than that nope. I understand Tiger still lost her mom and that would probably override a lot of negative feelings she had towards her but I was hoping there would be a conversation about grieving someone who was maybe not the best person. after her mom dies the majority of mentions of her are just how amazing and fun and full of light blah blah she was but like... from what we saw she kinda sucked.
other than that this was just kinda slow moving for me and I didn't really feel connected to the story which I was surprised by b/c losing my mom is acTUALLY MY BIGGEST FEAR so idk. meh