Yardley is a lovable, quirky character that captured my heart from the beginning. After cancer takes her grandmother, who is also her dearest friend, Yardley refuses to believe that it could truly the end of anything. Her search for a reincarnated Gidge is at times heartbreaking but also reflective of how much of Gidge's unshakeable optimism and hopeful character carry on in her granddaughter. It is hard not to root for Yardley as she copes with loss, grief, and loneliness in her own endearing and authentic way. ( )

Yardley and her grandmother Gidge are inseparable quirky fashionistas! They spend most of their time together styling clothes and visiting Gidge's former student Con at his vintage clothing store, The Over Easy. Con's nephew Harris is usually sitting sullenly on the old barcalounger in the back ignoring Yardley. Gidge's cancer diagnosis arrives and there is a whirlwind of letters to her loved ones (some to mail before her death and some after), consignment shop visits to unload her fabulous wardrobe department, and visits to the Pit of Despair as she attempts to prepare Yardley for her death. Unfortunately there is no way to prepare for death, especially the death of your best friend. A series of letters from Gidge "in the beyond", an odd encounter with a lady at The Over Easy, and a green velvet dress all bring Yardley and the sullen Harris together to investigate a mystery of Gidge's life that will surprise even her granddaughter! A Green Velvet Secret is a wonderful middle grade novel dealing with grief and loss while balancing a refreshing amount of quirkiness and humor! I enjoyed reading this with my ten-year-old daughter and discussing Yardley's actions in the midst of such complicated feelings and laughing at the warmth between characters and some silly scenes. Thanks to Tundra Books and the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program for mailing us a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
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I absolutely loved this book from start to finish! Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story had everything... love and death, relationships, friendships, mysteries, mistakes, and following your own crazy path. It also revealed some heartbreaking family secrets, and some hard to accept truths, and what it's like to deal with the death of someone you love.

The story follows Yardley, a 12 year old budding fashionista who definitely follows her own path. Her best friend is her grandmother Gidge, and they do everything together. When Gidge learns she has terminal cancer she tries to prepare Yardley for her impending demise by getting her to help her fix her karma... trying to right her past mistakes. Gidge writes many letters and gives Yardley her best advice for life, encouraging her to make friends and give people a chance, and to dance even in the face of sadness.

Yardley has a very hard time accepting that her grandmother would leave her, and believes that somehow she'll find her again, reincarnated into a new form. And when a lady comes into the second hand clothing shop that Yardley helps out at, she's convinced it's Gidge ... especially when the lady talks about one of the dresses that Gidge owned as if it had been her own. When the woman vanishes from the shop, Yardley is determined to find her and get to the truth, especially when she starts receiving letters from Gidge about where she can find her.

This book deals with a difficult subject in a way that felt emotional but not depressing. The characters were quirky and fun, and the reader can't help but love Yardley and how much she adores her grandmother. Following along as she finds clues she thinks will help her find her again, the reader is taken on her journey of growing up, and learning some new things about herself and the people around her. It touches on so many things young teens might feel from insecurity about finding friends and being accepted for who they are, to feeling a little embarrassed by parents. I love Yardley's style and her determination and confidence, especially as she starts to learn more about Harris and who he is, and his struggles, and that friends, family and life aren't always fair, but that sometimes things turn out okay even when you find yourself in the Pit of Despair. ( )

A Green Velvet Secret is about a 12-year-old girl named Yardley 'Ya-Ya' O'Hanlon. I suspect she was named for the beauty products company. After all, her beloved grandmother, Gidge, named her father 'Freedom' (although he goes by 'Fred'.) Gidge O'Hanlon is a free spirit, a spot of brilliant color among the duller aspects of life. She's a fashionista, a talent she passed on to Yardley (as one can tell from Yardley's outfit on the cover).

Gidge gets the news that she has terminal cancer at the beginning of the book. She's determined to make the most of the time she has left, which includes clearing her karma. Gidge is Yardley's best friend. They have always done so much together. Gidge tries to prepare her granddaughter for her impending death, but Yardley drowns out any such talk with 'la la las'.
Still, Gidge has plans to help Yardley find new friends after she's gone, whether Yardley likes it or not (not).

Gidge is a former fashion design teacher and seamstress. She goes through her intensive wardrobe with Yardley, choosing items to put on consignment at a local vintage clothing store, Over Easy, run by Con, one of Gidge's former pupils.
Con has his nephew, Harris, who is Yardley's age, staying with him. Of course the adults plot for the two children to become friends. If one was ever a child whose parents made similar plots, one will not be surprised that the kids don't like each other.

With finesse and care, this book deals with the death of a grandmother, a green dress, difficult friendships, and, finally, acceptance and hope.

Gidge isn't only Yardley's grandmother, she's Yardley's best and only friend. They are two peas in a pod. When Gidge happily announces she's ending life to head into the next adventure, Yardley is anything but enthusiastic. As cancer wins out and Yardley faces the difficult loss, she finds herself sticking to the vintage shop her grandmother loved and helping out as she can. When one of Gidge's green dresses comes in, Yardley's convinced the woman who brought it is Gidge's reincarnation...plus, there are many other 'signs' she continues to cross. But there's so much more to everything than Yardley realizes.

The author has done a lovely job on addressing the difficulties when losing a beloved grandparent. The first chapters take time to let Gidge and Yardley's relationship root and blossom, letting the reader understand how much they mean to each other. When the time comes and Gidge passes away, it's not a shock but a gentle passing, which lets the feelings calmly soak in. It's a situation, which more than a few middle graders can identify with as they remember their own grandparents' deaths or realize the same situation is sinking in. And this is all done with a positive attitude from Gidge as she tackles it with style and celebration. It keeps bitterness and extra weight away, allowing this to really sit nicely for the middle grade age group.

Yardley has difficulties coming to terms with Gidge's death and, at the same time, needs to connect to others. This re-shuffling of life comes across nicely and understandably. There's a bit of imagination poured in as Yardley clings to the impossible belief that another woman is her reincarnated Gidge, which gives the slight feel of magic/other-worldly without really going near it. It gives a nice twist of possibilities and impossible hope. The boy at the vintage store, Harris, offers a wonderful off-set to this with his prickly, no-nonsense personality, and helps the story flow in the right direction. All of it creates a fun and engaging read to balance out the heavier undertones and themes.

I do recommend this one and enjoyed reading every page. ( )