Never That Far

by Carol Lynch Williams

After her grampa dies, the last place Libby expects to see him is sitting on the edge of her bed. But that’s what happens the night after the funeral.

Even more surprising is that Grampa has three important things to tell her: first, that she isn’t alone or forgotten—“The dead ain’t never that far from the liv­ing,” he says; second, that she has “the Sight”—the ability to see family mem­bers who have died; and third, that there is something special just for her in the lake. Something that could help her and her father—if she can find it.

Libby and Grampa try to help her father heal from his grief, but it will take all of Libby’s courage and her gift of Sight to convince her father that the dead are never truly gone.

Never That Far is set in the lush, rural landscape of central Florida and is a story that celebrates friendship, hope, and the power of family love.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Historical

176 pages, Hardcover

First published April 3, 2018

About the author

Carol Lynch Williams is the author of more than 30 books for middle grade and young adult readers. Her novels include The Chosen One, Never that Far, Messenger and Never Said. Her most recent book is the novelization of the movie Once I Was a Beehive. Carol has an MFA from Vermont College in Writing for Children and Young Adults and teaches creative writing at BYU. She runs Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers, a week-long writing conference for the not-faint-of-heart writer (www.wifyr.com). As well she is a mentor for those who want to write for kids and teens. Her best creative effort, however, are her five daughters.

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to take a different approach to this review than normal. More than tell you about the book, I want to tell you what this book did for me.


I have always believed that those who have died are close by. My father use to tell us all the time that when babies are smiling at "nothing" they are smiling at those on the other side who are watching out for us. I loved that. I loved the thought that I wasn't the only one watching out for my family while here on earth.

This book also made me consider how much harder it would be for me to loose someone close to me, if I believed that, that was it. This little book showed me that no matter how long someone has been gone they are always right here with me.

This is a good book to read with someone who has lost someone recently or is going to be loosing someone. Help them understand that even though they are not here, and it hurts, they are really never gone.

I know it sounds so cliche, but it's so true. We can always carry those we love with us in our hearts, minds, and actions. It's such a calming feeling.

This is such a sweet story about a girl trying so hard to help her father realize that life doesn't have to be as hard as he is making it out to be, if he would just accept that there is help from the other side.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Edelweiss for a digital ARC of this book that shows a 12-year-old coming to terms with the grief she has over losing her grandfather.

I loved the relationship Libby Lochewood clearly has established with her grampa and how her he helps her through her grief. As a reformed believer, I am confident there is life after death. Although I do not believe in ghosts, I do have faith that my loved ones who have passed on before me are together and I will join them when I die. They are "never that far" as this book depicts for us. Recommended to help older middle graders understand grief in their own lives and the lives of those around them.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story.

[Glasdow Teacosy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Never That Far, and what a wonderful book it was. I would classify it as a fantasy middle grade novel, but that might give you the wrong idea. There are ghosts, but no hauntings. The story is magical, but not filled with magic. This may seem like a contradiction, but if you look beyond the constraints of genre, you’ll discover a story about the importance of family, redemption, and guiding love from beyond the grave.

Twelve-year-old Libby has the Sight, but never knew about her gift until see saw her recently departed Grampa. This brings her comfort when her heart is near breaking. The same cannot be said of her father. He has turned a blind eye to his sight all his life and all of Libby’s, too. Instead of comfort, he sees only despair. To save him, Grampa sends Libby on a quest. It takes her over water, requires the aid of atheists, jeopardizes her life, and puts her at odds with her father before she can find her Grampa’s treasure.

Carol writes with such a strong voice. I loved every page of this book and read it in one sitting. I am more than awed at her ability to capture emotions so keenly. Her characters felt real to me. Libby was strong and independent, yet still vulnerable. Carol was able to write her this way without any internal inconsistencies or cheats. She’s had years of experience honing her craft and studying people.

For example, her Baptist minister was spot on. Though annoying to Libby, the minister was a woman both anxious to heal people that she considered of her flock while also desperately wanting a place in that family. The more we encountered her, the more I loved her. All the side characters were written with such care and depth. Libby was never upstaged, however. Her drive and desire to solve her Grampa’s mystery pulled her forward through the story regardless of who got in her way. It was a very enjoyable read. Beautifully written. Paced perfectly. Highly recommended.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be a really good read. It is written well for the younger readers. Although, the subject matter that this book deals with is better read for the mature young audience or at least read as a family book. This way parents can help explain death. Personally, I don't really believe in an afterlife other than heaven. So, depending on your religion and beliefs, you will have to explain about the afterlife. Some do believe in "sight".

I liked Libby a lot. She was so open and willing to accept the gift of "sight". She didn't question the fact that she could see and communicate with her dead grandpa. They had good conversations. I felt like I really got to know Libby and her family. What I did like the most is that this book featured Libby as the one to help heal her father and so him it is ok to be sad but also to rejoice in his memories of his father. Never That Far is a charming, sweet read.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! I liked Libby. She’s just a young girl and things are hard when her grandpa dies. She had a dad, but her grandpa was the one that did everything with her and for her. I was just as surprised as she was when he started visiting her at night. She was able to hug him and be near him and he gave her an assignment. Find what he’d left for her near the lake.

Finding what he’d left for her becomes all consuming for Libby. She tries to tell those around her about her grandpa’s visit, but no one believes her. It doesn’t matter to her what her dad thinks or what her friends Bobby and Martha think. She knows that she has to find it and she has to find it before school starts.

Libby’s trying to find her treasure gets her into all kinds of trouble. Her dad gets mad at her. She maybe even loses a friend and her life. I loved the way the author wrote the whole story through Libby’s eyes. Libby never really sees the danger she’s in.

The plot of this one is full of great things, adventure, ghostly appearances, danger, and good friends. It’s a great middle grade book that the kids in your life will love.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never That Far is a very sweet and heart warming story. I loved this book. I was even brought to tears at the end. Libby is wonderfully stubborn and I loved her inner voice. Her grandfather just died leaving a hole in her family. Her Daddy then retreats to sadness and denial. Libby is visited by her Grampa telling her she has the Sight. Now she needs to convince her daddy of the family gift before it’s too late.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. I felt like it was a good way to show children how deal with the death of a loved one, however, I had a hard time with the way the characters spoke. It could have been because I was tired, but it felt like I had to translate in my head what they were saying at times. It is a good, clean read that most people would love.

[Genevieve Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good and sweet: a story of grief, family, and "the Sight."

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luminous and hopeful, with a unique and captivating voice.

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

This book shows how Libby navigates the loss of her grandfather. Libby has to process her pain, but she’s helped by the fact that she has the Sight and can still talk to her grandpa after he dies. But her father, on the other hand, refuses to believe in the ability to see the dead. He grieves the loss of his father (and his wife and mother) and pulls away from Libby. The story really becomes more about Libby reaching out to her father and closing the gap between them. The story is sweet, and I loved the paranormal aspect (always a bonus with me).

My favorite element of the book is the unique voice. The Libby is a twelve-year-old girl in rural Florida (in the 60’s, I believe), and her speech and inner dialogue reflect that beautifully. I really enjoyed reading a book in this voice, but some people might be put off by the speech patterns since they’re different from the way most of us talk. For me, it was a definite bonus, though.

This was a super quick read, with many lines that I wanted to read again and again. Very sweet. I highly recommend it!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot even though I don't think it's how things really are.

[The Book Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What you doing, girl?" Daddy said when the burying was done.

This was such a powerful read for me. In this story, we follow little Libby who is a 12-year-old girl back in the year 1967 in rural Florida. He grandpa has just died and one day it seems that her deceased grandpa appears by her and tells her he has left a treasure for her at the lake they own. It is own their property and little Libby is determined that she needs to find it. It is at this moment that she discovers that she has the sight that others in her family have. The ability to be able to be visited by a deceased family member, however, she learns that her father can't.

Not only does he not have the sight he very admittedly denies that anyone in their family ever could. We quickly learn that this hurts Libby and if she or he is ever going to heal she needs to convince him that he can see the deceased family and find closure.

This is a sweet story about grief, love, and loss. A subject that is important for middle-grade literature because death affects all of us at some point in life. It is a hard read, one that left me crying at points, laughing at others, and incredibly touched. The author Carol Lynch William's created such a powerful story and did so with amazing grace.

"The dead ain't never that far...".

Disclaimer: I received an Arc of this from Shadow Mountian Publishing in exchange for an honest review and this post. All thoughts are my own.

[Terryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Libby’s grandfather dies, she’s lost more than her best friend. She’s lost the only person in the world who understands her. Libby’s father, distraught at the loss of his own pappa, has taken to his bed, ignoring that Libby is grieving too. Right after grandpa’s funeral, Libby is woken by his spirit in the middle of the night, he tells her she has the gift of sight and that all of her relatives who have passed on will be able to communicate with her. Then, Grandpa issues her a challenge: she’s got to find treasure that he’s hidden in the lake and she only has a few days to do it. Libby sets out with the help of her two neighbors and against her skeptic father’s wishes. Libby is an extremely likeable character who is a vital part of healing her father’s enormous grief and for her own. Libby’s adventures are just exciting enough to move the plot along. Though the story is about grief and death, Williams presents these ideas in a sweet and positive light with a focus on family and healing. A good read for historical assignments, and short enough that it may be an attraction for reluctant readers. Recommended to fans of Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.
-Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix Public Library, AZ

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Libby and her grandfather were best friends. He recently died and now Libby doesn’t know how she is going to continue. Her mom and grandma have been dead for years so now it is just Libby and her dad. Dad is in mourning, has been really since the death of his wife. How will Libby get her dad back? Libby gets visits from her grandfather every night as he helps her navigate the new normal as well as helping her to find the treasure in the lake on the family property.

Carol Lynch Williams focuses on relationships in this novel for middle school children. The characters are well-developed and the plot is one of interest to this age group.

Potential problem areas – The plot revolves around a girl with the gift of “sight” – the ability to see and speak with the dead. The book also has a female character who is a preacher. These items could cause a problem for some audiences. I will not be able to place this title in my school library. While I enjoyed the book, I recommend librarians read it themselves before determining if the title is appropriate for their audience.

I received a complimentary copy of Never That Far from the publisher.

[Taffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opening line:
""What you doing, girl?" Daddy said when the burying was done.

Libby is going through a hard time. Her very best friend, her grampa, just died and her daddy isn't paying any attention to her. He's caught up in his own sorrows that stem back before this new death.
That night, her grampa's spirit visits her to comfort her and tell her a few important things. The most important: "The dead ain't never that far...". He also tells her there is a treasure out at the lake on their property. Libby's adventures are about to begin with the help of her new friend Bobby. She finds peace and love and something very, very special, more special than gold bouillon.
If there is a child or parent going through the loss of a loved one, this story is a great reminder that our loved ones are always close, even if we don't see them

NEVER THAT FAR is a story of love, family and most importantly, finding a soft spot to land surrounded by a loving family, both past and present.


Thanks to netgalley and Shadow Mountain for the early read.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libby's deceased grampa appears to her and tells her that he has a left a treasure for her at the lake on their property and she needs to find it. Libby discovers that she, like her grampa and other family members, has "the Sight." While she might be able to see deceased family members, her father can't--he stubbornly refuses to believe he, she, or anyone in their family could ever have had the Sight. If Libby and her father are going to find a way to heal, she has to convince him to see.

This is a sweet story about grief, love, and healing. Carol Lynch Williams did a great job portraying a rural Florida girl and giving her an authentic voice. I'm not even sure if I believe in "the Sight," and yet, Williams totally made it seem plausible and I never doubted that Libby DID possess it. I think that suspension of disbelief (or at least, suspension of skepticism) is an indicator of Williams' talent as a writer. A sweet story, even if you don't quite believe, because it reminds you that there's stuff worth living for.

#NetGalley #NeverThatFar #ShadowMountain

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one writes about grief and loss more wrenchingly than Carol Lynch Williams. After Libby's beloved grandfather dies, she finds herself still able to see him, talk to him, even hug him. The gift of "Sight" has long been in her family, but her father refuses to hear any talk of it and cuts himself off from any hope of reconnecting with lost loved ones, including both of his dead parents and his dead wife (Libby's mother). Williams's beautifully realized story, in its lush Florida setting, explores the power of our beliefs: "And what about Daddy who couldn't see - not really see - on account of his own disbelief? Even with truth standing so close to him?" In the end, Libby's journey to help her father realize that the dead are "never that far" from us helps bring the living - her grieving father - closer to her, as well. This story of deep and abiding grief is also one of deep and enduring comfort.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Libby has lost everyone in her family except her father, and they're both full of grief. Never That Far is Libby's journey in trying to get her father to believe that their dead loved ones are never that far away. He needs that comfort so he can be happy again, and be there for Libby.

Never That Far is an interesting read. It has a lot of heart and a good message about the importance of family and faith. I liked Libby a lot, and her friend Bobby. It is so nice (and important) to have friends that are on the same page as us, that we can count on and trust, especially when we might not be getting that at home.

It is a quick and clean read.

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Book Geek Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a very interesting and well-written story. The characters were great, the voice, the writing style, the theme. All just really, really good. A great story of loss and grief and acceptance—beautifully written.

The one concern that I have is it sort of mixes a little "paranormal" in, with the ability of some of the characters to see and talk to ghosts. While it didn't bother me, I wonder if a child whose just lost a parent might have some issues with this. I know my niece who just lost her mother would want so badly to see her, and realizing that she wouldn't actually be able to see and talk to her mother no matter how much she tried, would make her really sad. I recommend parents read this before giving it to their child.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the unique voice of this book. It was consistent and actually quite endearing. It pulled me into the story right away.

At the end of the book, there is a moment when her father drowns and she sees his ghost with her other deceased family members on the shore. I teared up. I think that anyone who has experienced profound or traumatic loss -- or maybe just loss in general -- will find beauty in this scene. So beautifully poignant. I guess what I'm saying is that readers will definitely connect with the emotions the main character goes through. We all have loss. We all struggle. But we can all survive and move forward, always remembering those we lost.

[Tessa McMillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libby Lochewood just lost Grampa Lochewood, her best friend and confidant. Libby feels incredibly alone, because her dad is not handling the loss well. The night after the funeral, an angelic version of Libby’s grandfather visits her. He tells her she has the gift of seeing her deceased family members. He also tells her that he has left her a treasure somewhere in their nearby lake. Leaving her grieving father, Libby sets off to search the lake. However, several life-threatening experiences cause Libby to invite her friend & neighbor, Bobby, to join her search for the treasure.

Williams story is a delightful mixture of humor, loss, and heart. Through Libby’s vibrant voice Williams beautifully explores how deep-rooted relationships don’t end when a loved one passes away. Williams shows how actively concerned deceased loved-ones are for those still struggling to make sense of life. One weakness for Williams book was Libby’s search for her grandfather’s treasure. This story element was dramatically built up at the beginning of the book, but was lost or fizzle out near the end. It doesn’t seem quite clear what the treasure really is in the end. However, Never That Far is a great recommendation for young readers who have lost anyone they have loved.

(Review Found on Children's Compass Chronicle: childrenscompasschronicle.blogspot.com)

[Heather Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up in the middle of a family history search as I was learning more about some of my ancestors. I feel like it caught me at the perfect time because it touched me so deep. Family is so important and I truly believe that our loved ones don’t leave us, they are always by our sides cheering us on and rooting for us during every aspect of our lives.
I loved everything about this book! I loved the grandfather and his wisdom and the way he connected with his granddaughter. And I loved the very end...I won’t spoil it but I was in tears. Love, love, love this book!!!

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, warm, and comforting. Her voice is hopeful, and full of description, that takes you to the Florida lake with Libby.

“All my thoughts did something to me on the inside. Made my stomach feel pickled. Wrinkled up. Too small for that huge breakfast.

The palms of my hands went numb. My tongue felt like it wore a fuzzy sweater. I could hear water in my eyes.”

For anyone who has lost someone they love, or has hope for the future- this will warm your insides.

[R.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

NEVER THAT FAR is a sweet MG story about family, loss, and carrying on in the strength of each other. With lyrical Southern language, an entrancing setting, and remarkable main character Libby, along with a cast of endearing characters, Carol Lynch Williams tells a story of unexpected death, communication between living and dead, and the ways we find hope in our connections with each other. Lovely, fulfilling, unforgettable.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carol Lynch Williams has a way with words and Never That Far is no different. Her lyrical writing and emotional messages are on brand for her. And Libby is a very likable character. Children who have lost someone close to them may relate to Libby and the lessons she learns and the role she takes in helping her father heal. Whether you believe in what Libby experiences, the ability to grieve and mourn and heal are universal concepts worth addressing.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Williams has written a slim novel about the way a family grieves, finds faith in each other and starts to move on after a series of deaths. Some will read this and find it heavily religious, dealing with things like the afterlife and faith. It may be a comfort to some who have recently lost loved ones. Review from galley.

[NaDell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite...
Several times in the book I was confused about which character was speaking because it wasn't always clear and I'd have to reread to try and figure it out.
I didn't relate to the characters at all, other than maybe Martha who thought they were crazy...
I think this is supposed to be aimed at children, but deals with too mature of subjects for me to let my kids read it.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick and easy read. While there were a couple things that I thought were odd and didn't make a ton of sense, I still enjoyed the story and the point of the book - healing and the importance of family. I would suggest reading it, just remember there are a couple odd factors, but if you can get past them, it's a sweet story.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet story. I was afraid that it might make me cry a lot, but I didn't at all, which surprised me. It takes place in the late 60's in Florida. The family lives near a lake and the girl's grandfather has just died. Right before he dies, he tells her that he left her something in the lake, so you're wondering through most of the book what it could be.