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Grief Girl: My True Story
This is the gripping true story of how one devastating moment tears a family apart and how love and strength come together to rebuild what was lost.
“Compelling... tinged with the rawness only real life can provide.” — Entertainment Weekly
I am just like you.
I get bored in school.
I goof off with my friends.
I fight with my family.
I have big dreams.
I am just like everyone else.
And then, in a split second, I’m not.
It's just another October day until Erin’s parents are hit by a speeding tow truck. Mom dies instantly. Dad dies one month later, after doctors assure Erin he’s going to make it. Now Erin and her sister are left to raise their baby brother—and each other.
Grief Girl will break your heart and then fill you with hope, time and time again.
“Compelling... tinged with the rawness only real life can provide.” — Entertainment Weekly
I am just like you.
I get bored in school.
I goof off with my friends.
I fight with my family.
I have big dreams.
I am just like everyone else.
And then, in a split second, I’m not.
It's just another October day until Erin’s parents are hit by a speeding tow truck. Mom dies instantly. Dad dies one month later, after doctors assure Erin he’s going to make it. Now Erin and her sister are left to raise their baby brother—and each other.
Grief Girl will break your heart and then fill you with hope, time and time again.
324 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2007
77 people are currently reading
744 people want to read
About the author
Erin Vincent
4 books9 followersErin Vincent has worked as a journalist, fashion designer, creative consultant, theater actress, photographer's assistant, waitress on a paddle steamer, bartender, and served pies and mushy peas late at night from a roadside van. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Adam, and a pet crab named Charlie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
December 2, 2008
This one was okay. I didn't really like the author...I'm not sure why. I just didn't like her voice or tone or something.
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March 26, 2012This story follows a teenager through the loss of her parents in a car crash that left her, her older sister, and their baby brother orphaned in the blink of an eye. (Granted, their mother dies right away and their father goes a month later as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.) Being a teenager is no picnic, but that does not compare to the loss and subsequent turmoil that Erin feels. Now left to deal with growing up alone, Erin faces more immediate and heart-wrenching problems. She feels guilt over her parents’ deaths, recalling how—in true adolescent fashion- she has wished them dead not too long ago. And now they’re gone and she can’t help but feel partially responsible. To make matters worse, her relationship with her sister takes an ugly turn. She ends up feeling shunned and worthless, which is the last thing she needs. Worst of all, their extended family does nothing to help or comfort them, but rather takes advantage of their situation.
As a reader, I appreciated what Vincent did for this memoir. She channeled her inner teen and wrote this book with all the angst, defiance, self-absorption, and every stereotypical teenage quality you can think of in a journal-style recap of this tragic event in her life. Being an older sister (and the eldest of my family), I found myself relating more to Tracy than to Erin. The weight of becoming the parent of the family and the way she dealt with her grief was completely understandable to me. I even found that it made sense that she took her anger out on Erin and threw herself into taking charge and keeping busy. It also broke my heart that Trent was only 3 when this happened.
As a teacher, I’d be careful about the profanity in this book, but I don’t really see a reason not to teach it if you can tie it into your curriculum. Dealing with loss, grief, and all of the other complex emotions that come with a situation like this are not strange or foreign concepts to students we may have. Introducing a story like this, and a memoir nonetheless brings that reality into the classroom and allows an outlet for discussion, analysis, and more implicit teachings. Just like any other sensitive subject matter, I would caution teachers in their approach to such a topic. Overall, it’s a pretty good read and written in a very relatable way.
As a reader, I appreciated what Vincent did for this memoir. She channeled her inner teen and wrote this book with all the angst, defiance, self-absorption, and every stereotypical teenage quality you can think of in a journal-style recap of this tragic event in her life. Being an older sister (and the eldest of my family), I found myself relating more to Tracy than to Erin. The weight of becoming the parent of the family and the way she dealt with her grief was completely understandable to me. I even found that it made sense that she took her anger out on Erin and threw herself into taking charge and keeping busy. It also broke my heart that Trent was only 3 when this happened.
As a teacher, I’d be careful about the profanity in this book, but I don’t really see a reason not to teach it if you can tie it into your curriculum. Dealing with loss, grief, and all of the other complex emotions that come with a situation like this are not strange or foreign concepts to students we may have. Introducing a story like this, and a memoir nonetheless brings that reality into the classroom and allows an outlet for discussion, analysis, and more implicit teachings. Just like any other sensitive subject matter, I would caution teachers in their approach to such a topic. Overall, it’s a pretty good read and written in a very relatable way.
March 28, 2019
I'm going through a lot of grief and have been for a long time, but it has been heightened by the loss of a special, very dear, close friend 6 weeks ago. We shared an unique bond and I'm crushed by her loss.I don't know when I won't be crushed.Add that to the grief I've been living in for almost 2 years for the loss of my precious brother, and I'm a grief girl too.
I've been reading a lot about grief lately, trying to find something to give some glimmer of help , and while this book didn't make me feel better per se, it did give some comfort in the fact that the author had a lot of the exact same thoughts and feelings I have.Thoughts and feelings that don't make any sense or are hard to relate to unless you are grieving yourself.And for that, I thank her.I'm so sorry for the loss she and her siblings went through.It doesn't matter how long its been.It still hurts.
I've been reading a lot about grief lately, trying to find something to give some glimmer of help , and while this book didn't make me feel better per se, it did give some comfort in the fact that the author had a lot of the exact same thoughts and feelings I have.Thoughts and feelings that don't make any sense or are hard to relate to unless you are grieving yourself.And for that, I thank her.I'm so sorry for the loss she and her siblings went through.It doesn't matter how long its been.It still hurts.
October 29, 2009
In this memoir, Erin Vincent gives us the unvarnished truth of grief. It's messy, it's not linear. It attacks us all differently. Not even sisters, facing the same loss, will respond the same. When she was a young teen, Erin lost her mother, and then a month later, her father. Both victims of an accident. Tracy, her older sister, dealt with the loss by keeping busy, taking charge, being competent. Erin felt pushed aside, useless, undervalued. The girls each were trying to survive that horrible accident, and stay strong for their younger brother who needed them.
This is a raw, honest, look at how two girls survived. It's not a manual; it's not glamorized or sentimentalized. Erin DOES survive this loss. That's what people do. We survive.
THis book will be valuable for several reasons -- it will show those lucky teens who haven't faced loss what it looks like and sounds like. It will serve as a mirror for those young people who HAVE lost loved ones. Erin and Tracy show we must find our own way out of the trap of grief. Because if we don't, grief waits patiently to ambush us.
This is a raw, honest, look at how two girls survived. It's not a manual; it's not glamorized or sentimentalized. Erin DOES survive this loss. That's what people do. We survive.
THis book will be valuable for several reasons -- it will show those lucky teens who haven't faced loss what it looks like and sounds like. It will serve as a mirror for those young people who HAVE lost loved ones. Erin and Tracy show we must find our own way out of the trap of grief. Because if we don't, grief waits patiently to ambush us.
March 10, 2011
Painful to read, but I guess that is what makes it good. It really makes clear the confusing and contradictory feelings surrounding deaths that happen quickly, in this case, a car accident. I have been closely effected by two quick deaths, one a suicide and the other a murder, and they really did effect me differently than the slow deaths (cancer) that have touched my life. It is a small part of the whole, but I was glad she added the short section about not being able to relate to the girl whose mother had died after a long illness.
I actually read this a long time ago, and had forgotten to annotate it, so I re-read the first part and skimmed the back half this time.
I am always glad for the afterward in books like this. It is soothing for me to read that life went on - with goods and bads.
I actually read this a long time ago, and had forgotten to annotate it, so I re-read the first part and skimmed the back half this time.
I am always glad for the afterward in books like this. It is soothing for me to read that life went on - with goods and bads.
November 14, 2010
This book is a memoir about Erin Vincent's life, starting from when she was fourteen. The whole book is based around the death of her parents and the aftermath of what happened. Throughout the book, she believes that her parents' deaths were her fault because she wished only a week earlier before their deaths that they would die. After their deaths, her life is torture, as she is stuck with her moody sister who appears to absolutely hate her and with no money at all.
I thought this book was pretty okay. The beginning was good and interesting, but as we hear more about her life with her sister, I found it really repetitive. Her sister was constantly cruel to her, but it kind of became annoying as the book progressed. Other than that, the rest of the events in the book were okay.
I thought this book was pretty okay. The beginning was good and interesting, but as we hear more about her life with her sister, I found it really repetitive. Her sister was constantly cruel to her, but it kind of became annoying as the book progressed. Other than that, the rest of the events in the book were okay.
May 26, 2015
Excellent book. Would love to read more from this author.
December 3, 2015
Loved this book(: Great for someone looking for an awesome non-fiction read.
November 5, 2017
Erin lost her mom and dad.
I lost my mom to the disease that starts with a mother fucking C.
The type was cervical.
I'm not that fragile to death, but I never knew what was like until one lost my first family member.
I go lost in my world as usual before she passed.
Did some life threatening things.
I like Erin's perspective of how when she talked about God, I believe in him...I just feel like my love is not strong enough for the light but I want it to be.
Erin taught me that I should just go out and grab what's mine when tragedy strikes.
I've done some things I'm not proud of and I will never stop feeling guilty for it so I cover it up with what I love and move on.
Erin's blunt mind about sex..really appealed to me, I'm asexual so double the gross on that factor.
Erin kept saying she didn't wanna be seen as this or that...I feel the same way because I've got shit to do anyway.
Life falls apart when folks die...and with one parent..the normal families don't get it.
Don't think tragedy can't happen to you in some form because you'll find yourself trying to find a bandage for it...just like you stood back and watched the other person do it...now they'll enjoy seeing you fix your mistakes.
I'm one of the goth chicks..I have a keep sensibility for light and dark but dark more.
I can be so many things at once.
I lost my mom to the disease that starts with a mother fucking C.
The type was cervical.
I'm not that fragile to death, but I never knew what was like until one lost my first family member.
I go lost in my world as usual before she passed.
Did some life threatening things.
I like Erin's perspective of how when she talked about God, I believe in him...I just feel like my love is not strong enough for the light but I want it to be.
Erin taught me that I should just go out and grab what's mine when tragedy strikes.
I've done some things I'm not proud of and I will never stop feeling guilty for it so I cover it up with what I love and move on.
Erin's blunt mind about sex..really appealed to me, I'm asexual so double the gross on that factor.
Erin kept saying she didn't wanna be seen as this or that...I feel the same way because I've got shit to do anyway.
Life falls apart when folks die...and with one parent..the normal families don't get it.
Don't think tragedy can't happen to you in some form because you'll find yourself trying to find a bandage for it...just like you stood back and watched the other person do it...now they'll enjoy seeing you fix your mistakes.
I'm one of the goth chicks..I have a keep sensibility for light and dark but dark more.
I can be so many things at once.
April 9, 2018
I started looking through this book in order to decide if it should be kept in our collection or weeded out. It captured my attention, so I decided to go ahead and read it. I'm glad I did. I was surprised that a story set in Australia in the 1980s still held such relevance. It deals with the boundless topic of tragedy and loss. This true story is told from the author's perspective as a young teen who lost both of her parents within the span of a month in a tragic accident. She takes the reader through her process of grieving this monumental loss and how it impacted her life and the life of her siblings. The raw emotions she experienced through her journey are laid bare as she bravely exposes her most intimate thoughts and feelings. I would highly recommend this book to a teenager who might be dealing with loss. It would also be good for those in the life of a teenager dealing with loss to help them understand the tenderness of the mourning teen.
September 17, 2020
We could be close friends
There were so many similarities in this book to my life back in1989. It's crazy how both of us had the same reaction to loved ones death at first, it must be because were were stupid teenagers and we had no concept of what was really happening to us at the time. She experienced the EXACT same situation as me. I had to go back to school after my brother was murdered and my first day back, the teacher tells us to after about our summer vacation. How stupid and insensitive some teachers could be. My summer was great until someone shot and killed my brother. Thanks teacher for making my transition back to school so pleasant. The story is exactly written how a 14 year old would process a devastating loss. She doesn't cover up anything and at many times I cried because I could understand exactly how she felt.
There were so many similarities in this book to my life back in1989. It's crazy how both of us had the same reaction to loved ones death at first, it must be because were were stupid teenagers and we had no concept of what was really happening to us at the time. She experienced the EXACT same situation as me. I had to go back to school after my brother was murdered and my first day back, the teacher tells us to after about our summer vacation. How stupid and insensitive some teachers could be. My summer was great until someone shot and killed my brother. Thanks teacher for making my transition back to school so pleasant. The story is exactly written how a 14 year old would process a devastating loss. She doesn't cover up anything and at many times I cried because I could understand exactly how she felt.
November 18, 2017
It was a good but but hard to read, because this is a true story. I cried a couple times. It was a fairly short book so it didn’t take too too long to read. I liked reading Erin’s story and seeing how she was dealing with the loss. I can’t really put into words how good this book is, it just wouldn’t do it justice. I definitely recommend this story, to everyone.
February 12, 2021
A true story about a young girls grief process over her parents. People grieve in different ways and no ones is the same. There is no time line. Watching her relationships with friends and family was what built the story.
February 20, 2022
I really enjoyed this book even though I disliked most of the characters. Every time we were introduced to a new person I hoped that they would be better than the last and they weren’t. However, I loved the writer’s voice in this and her journey.
August 27, 2023
I read this book a long time ago when I was barely a teen. I read it during a time where I had to be away from my family. It made me feel seen and used to be the only book I liked. I don’t know if it would hold up now but at the time.. well you know. :)
October 14, 2020
I think that this book gave a great insight into the life of someone who has lost both of their parents. I think that it is a great book and anyone would enjoy reading it.
November 4, 2020
I am still reading it the book is good but its something about the tone that keeps making me stop reading it Idk why but overall it's good
March 4, 2021
Not my favorite...I understand going thru grief is very, very hard. I do not think all of the cuss words were necessary.
September 27, 2021
Amazing book, great writing, and a heart-touching story. I re-read this book for the second time. It has been one of my favorite books for a long time.
February 14, 2022
The writing was very abrupt and just missing a little something.
March 16, 2022
I lost my dad and I related so much to this book. I could not put this book down
May 29, 2022
Beautifully written. Erin’s story spoke to my heart.
April 29, 2023
For me, the overall writing is good quality, but unfortunately it apparently took this woman a LARGE part of her life to know herself and find some real happiness.
October 20, 2023
it was a pretty okay read i understand how erin felt in moments and in others she felt very annoying overall this book is a 4/5
February 13, 2024
Beautiful.
February 13, 2025
Definitely meant for younger audiences. Like… maybe 5th grade.
October 29, 2024
I lost my aunt and uncle in a car accident a few years ago, this book hurt to read and brought up a lot of memories but it also made me feel less alone. Loss is tough and this book captures it perfectly.
April 21, 2024
I have not yet experienced the loss of a parent, but this still hit me hard enough to pull tears. Accessing her raw teenage emotions about it delivered what I suspect are some observations on grief and loss that people might feel, but adults tend not to talk about. I feel for what she went through, both in dealing with the loss and frequently clashing with just about every relative she had left except her baby brother. (And can we talk about what a stingy POS her uncle in charge of the trust was?)
Withholding an entire star for her unnecessary story about having once starved a pet mouse to death by forgetting to feed it, though. Take that shame to your grave and answer to God about it.
Withholding an entire star for her unnecessary story about having once starved a pet mouse to death by forgetting to feed it, though. Take that shame to your grave and answer to God about it.
March 13, 2017
Quite boring, just wasn't the right book for me.
December 8, 2014
I think that Erin’s purpose of writing this book was to show others hope. Sharing her story worldwide had to have been a hard thing for her but I think that her experiences and story has and will affect many people all over the world. She has combined her love of writing and her passion to help people and made a beautiful and inspiring story of her life. From a reader's point of view I saw this book as a glimmer of hope, seeing that if Erin can get through this horrible experience that she faced in her life, than I can survive the math test I have to take the next day, or the stress of not having things planned out. This book has given me hope that things do get better and it’s not all awful in the world.
I think that the theme of this book would have to be hope. No other word can describe this book. So many times, Erin thought that the pain was unbearable, that she couldn’t go on any further and that nothing could be worse than what she felt right then and look at where she is now. Married, living out her dream of being a writer, and helping children as a youth counselor. This book shows that no matter how many things you may go through everything will get better if you believe it can.
Erin wrote this book in present tense. Taking the reader through her life and everyday starting with the day her parents got in the accident. This book takes you through every up and every down of what she did once her parents passed. Every experience she had and every horrifying memory. It’s a real eye opener to know that she actually wrote it not some writer who changed her story so more people would read it. It was all Erin and it’s amazing to see and hear her story, but also unimaginable that something this horrible could happen.
I liked this book a lot. Even though I think my problems are big and worse than everybody's I know and all of my friends, but it got me to think, what about the people i'm not friends with and I don’t know. Their life, their story could be so much worse than mine but all I think about are my problems and how much I need comfort and help. It never seemed real to me that someone could actually have both of their parents pass and only have a big sister to raise me, I always thought that would just be a bad dream I would have at nights, but it’s real and it’s something somebody I don’t even know has to live through everyday and this book has opened my eyes to appreciate who I have in my life no matter how much they annoy me and just remember I am always better off than someone else.
I think that the theme of this book would have to be hope. No other word can describe this book. So many times, Erin thought that the pain was unbearable, that she couldn’t go on any further and that nothing could be worse than what she felt right then and look at where she is now. Married, living out her dream of being a writer, and helping children as a youth counselor. This book shows that no matter how many things you may go through everything will get better if you believe it can.
Erin wrote this book in present tense. Taking the reader through her life and everyday starting with the day her parents got in the accident. This book takes you through every up and every down of what she did once her parents passed. Every experience she had and every horrifying memory. It’s a real eye opener to know that she actually wrote it not some writer who changed her story so more people would read it. It was all Erin and it’s amazing to see and hear her story, but also unimaginable that something this horrible could happen.
I liked this book a lot. Even though I think my problems are big and worse than everybody's I know and all of my friends, but it got me to think, what about the people i'm not friends with and I don’t know. Their life, their story could be so much worse than mine but all I think about are my problems and how much I need comfort and help. It never seemed real to me that someone could actually have both of their parents pass and only have a big sister to raise me, I always thought that would just be a bad dream I would have at nights, but it’s real and it’s something somebody I don’t even know has to live through everyday and this book has opened my eyes to appreciate who I have in my life no matter how much they annoy me and just remember I am always better off than someone else.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews