"How to Make Friends with the Dark" is a young adult novel by Kathleen Glasgow that explores the journey of a girl named Grace "Tiger" Tolliver as she copes with the death of her mother and the ensuing grief and challenges in her life. The story portrays Tiger's struggle with loss, foster care, bullying, and the emotional darkness she faces after her mother's death. Throughout the novel, Tiger learns to confront and make peace with her grief and darkness, finding strength through new friendships, family connections, and self-discovery
. The book is recognized for its raw and realistic depiction of grief and trauma, illustrating how Tiger initially feels isolated and overwhelmed by the darkness inside her but gradually begins to heal by accepting her pain and reaching out for support. It emphasizes themes of sisterhood, friendship, and the importance of sharing one's feelings rather than bottling them up
. In summary, "How to Make Friends with the Dark" metaphorically teaches how to "make friends with the dark" by learning to accept and live with grief and hardship, rather than being consumed by it. The novel provides a poignant and emotional narrative on resilience and hope in the face of loss
