Being Edie Is Hard Today is a modern story about imagination and the issues kids deal with due to a more heighten sense of issues they (and adults around them) have. In other words, this is a touchy-feely book at its best. And make sure that you are at your best when reading; because nothing can ruin this book more than having a “Being You Is Hard Today” kind of day yourself.
Ben Brashares created a modern, not fairy tale, but fairy tale for today. Edie is just having a rough time of it. She imagines all sorts of animals and situations to help her through, by the end of the day there is only one way to finally let it all go. And then, tomorrow, she realizes is a new day.
The story is simple, and even though Elizabeth Bergeland has some perfectly detailed, creative and even slightly complex illustrations that perfectly fit the text and help move the story along, they are simple as well. This mixture of complex simplicity really keeps the mood flowing. These pieces are frame worthy. They really make this book and without them I would not have liked it half as much as I did, despite the “Being Me Was Hard Yesterday” day I was having. The lines and splashes of color make this book for the older child but could be an interesting gift for an adult as well.
This is a feelings book: what do you feel about the subject? What do you feel like right the moment of reading: What are your feelings after reading? Everyone will come away with something slightly different than another reader, hence why adults should read and not just as a read-aloud for kids.