The Angel Letters

The Angel Letters: Lessons That Dying Can Teach Us About Living - Norman J. Fried
Having worked for years with children struck with cancer, psychologist Norman J. Fried has come to the conclusion that "the sweetest lessons are sometimes learned through bitterness and pain" (ix). This book consists of letters Fried composed for nine children after they lost their battle with cancer in an effort "to say an honest and meaningful farewell to the children I loved" (115). Each tale is heart-breaking. Fried has come to conclude that there are two types of people - "those who expect us to 'get over' our pain, and the rare ones who understand our need to 'get through' it" (15). He tells of how one patient explained that losing a young child is like losing the future, while losing a grandparent is like losing the past. This is a deeply touching book that nurtures compassion for the suffering while calling us to live deeper and fuller lives with the time we have on earth.