On the death of her grandmother, which emotions did you feel from Elsa most strongly? How is it that the loss of a loved one can lead us to have such complicated feelings?

When her grandmother dies, Elsa experiences a wide range of emotions in addition to sadness. Which emotions did you feel from her most strongly? How is it that the loss of a loved one can lead us to have feelings that are much more complicated than sadness?

Although she was aware this was going to happen, and although she grieved, she felt determination to comply with Granny's wishes to distribute the letters. After this is done, there is almost a sigh of relief. She actually was able to make a friend and explore the world as it is.

I felt Elsa was lost when her grandma died because they were best friends.This is probably was the first time Elsa lost someone close to her and she didn't know what to do. So I think giving the letters out to various people gave her a purpose and she learned more about her grandmother in the process and made many new friends.

Elsa is both sad and angry. She feels both emotions because she has lost a best friend whom she loves and a fellow traveler in the real world and the world of make believe. Granny and Elsa were soul mates who shared unconditional love. Granny was always there for Elsa; now she was gone. Elsa later realizes that Granny has left her with legacies--legacies for her to survive life. Granny teaches Elsa that "There's nothing wrong with being different and that only different people change the world." Not a bad concept to pass along....

I think Elsa dealt with the death of granny in a very normal fashion. She was sad and she was angry. It is hard to loose your best friend (and only family) when you are that age. Giving the letters did help her understand a different side of her grandmother. If I picture Elsa as a young woman, I think the skills she learned as a child will serve her well. I think she will probably be pretty we'll balanced.

Extreme grief and anger.

There is the knowledge that life without that person can never be the same. The change is astronomical to the emotions.

Elsa was angry. Her only friend has left her and she responds with the appropriate 7 year old level of ire and frustration. How is she expected to carry out the insurmountable task her grandmother has left to her? Who will "get" her now that the one person in all the world who accepted and loved her unconditionally (to Elsa's way of thinking) is gone? And love - the fierce, unwavering, and total love that a child feels for the person who loves them best. The greatest gift her grandmother left her is the understanding that all lives are inextricably woven with others. That we do not walk through life alone, and that there are many people looking out for us, who want the best for us, and who will love us and let us love them in return.

liked several of the comments by other readers - especially Kenanr

When Elsa's grandmother died, Elsa lost her best friend and confidante. No one else seems to understand her and she feels saddened and very much alone.

Elsa's first emotion was denial, then sadness and anger, eventually loneliness. These are all very normal responses to loss.

Elsa was sad, angry, lost and confused, but granny foresaw that that would happen. I believe that is one reason she gave Elsa the apology letters to deliver. That gave Elsa something to do that would at the same time remind Elsa of granny, take her mind off her grieving, and help her understand reality. Brilliant!

Why do we have such complicated feelings when we lose someone? We miss the person, even if we had mixed feelings about him/her. We might question God or a higher power - or the person himself. If we know the person was in pain, we might feel a sense of relief. Because we are human, we experience a mix of emotions we often cannot understand, maybe more when we lose someone than at any other time.

I felt that Elsa's strongest emotion was that of feeling lost and alone when granny died. She was grieving and angry all at the same time but the assignment granny gave her to distribute the letters was so wise and it gave Elsa a new purpose. Along the way Elsa was able to make some new friends who cared about her and that was exactly what she needed and what I'm sure granny was hoping for knowing that she would soon be gone from Elsa's life.

Elsa knew her grandmothers was going to die but she was still very angry about it. Death is hard for all of us to deal with and it will take you through all your emotions until you can accept it and move on. Granny helped Elsa do this by delivering the letters and understanding the truth about the people she lived with but didn't really know.