Always a Sibling, Annie Sklaver Orenstein
Always a Sibling, Annie Sklaver Orenstein
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Always a Sibling
The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief

Author: Annie Sklaver Orenstein

Narrator: Annie Sklaver Orenstein

Unabridged: 8 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Balance

Published: 05/28/2024

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

A practical, compassionate guide to sibling loss, with research, stories, and strategies for “forgotten mourners” as they move through the stages of grief towards finding meaning.​
After her brother was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, Annie Sklaver Orenstein was heartbroken and unmoored. Standing in the grief section of her local bookstore, she searched for guides on how to work through her grief as a mourning sibling—and found nothing. More than 4 million American adults each year will lose a sibling, yet there isn't a modern resource guide available that speaks directly to this type of grief that at times can be overshadowed by grieving parents and spouses and made even more difficult by the complexities of sibling dynamics.

In AlwaysaSibling, Annie uses her own story and those of others to create the empathic, thoughtful, practical resource that she sought. Divided into three sections: With, Without, and Within, it creates a framework that enables the reader to ground themselves in order to process and validate this often overlooked grief. Annie guides readers to capture the memories and emotions of life with their now deceased sibling, then moves to addressing the grieving process in detail as they navigate life without them. Ultimately, readers will find ways to experience their sibling's presence within themselves and acknowledge their legacy. With practical strategies rooted in proven grief processing techniques, trauma recovery, and psychoanalysis, Always A Sibling truly supports mourners through the unique experience of sibling loss. 

Reviews

Goodreads review by Lydia on January 30, 2024

I wish I could have read this book six years ago. My younger brother died in a car wreck at the age of 40 years old. I was so full of grief and sorrow letting it consume me. I read a few books about dealing with the loss of a loved one, but none of the books I read gave me any encouragement. This bo......more

Goodreads review by Kat on June 19, 2024

I was part of the surveyed group for this book and was so looking forward to reading it as soon as it came out. It’s a wonderful resource that I wish I had had six years ago when my younger sister, Abbey died. More than anything, it is a nice reminder that you are not alone in anything you’re feelin......more

Goodreads review by Laura on June 24, 2024

I lost my sister in 2022 and was extremely happy that I won this book. I then lost my mother in November 2023 so what was inside actually helped me understand how to deal with what was happening. The author lost her brother and what seemed like something that you would not be able to take care of su......more

Goodreads review by Geraldine (geraldinereads) on June 30, 2024

It's uncommon to find grief books that cover sibling loss, let alone grief books that mention losing a sibling to suicide. This is the first grief book that continuously mentions suicide in every aspect and chapter. I really appreciate being included since other grief books only cover accidents, add......more

Goodreads review by Laura on June 25, 2024

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hachette Books for choosing me. I'm a firm believer that books find us when we need them most. It is helpful, without being self-help or pushy. It is accepting of the fact that our stories aren't the same and ye......more


Quotes

“I became a completely different person after my brother's death. My life is now divided into ‘before’ and ‘after’ and I wish I'd had this book as a resource to guide me through that process. Through the exercises Annie outlines in her book, I know that other grieving siblings will be able to find the support and guidance they need.” —Stephanie Wittels Wachs, author of Everything is Horrible and Wonderful and host of The Last Day podcast

“Annie has internalized the research on sibling loss and delivered it with wit, grace and simplicity. She makes an impossible situation feel a little more manageable. I very much hope you do not need this book, but if you do, I am grateful that you now have it.” —Emily Oster, author of the bestselling titles, Expecting Better, Cribsheet and The Family Firm

"Bursts with provocative questions that feel at once familiar and entirely fresh, and the kind of vulnerable storytelling that makes me want to hug her and, in fact, everyone. Annie’s expertise as an ethnographer—as a professional empathy-generator—crackles on the page.” —Samara Bay, speech coach and author of Permission to Speak

"Annie Sklaver Orenstein captures the raw and devastating grief of losing her brother Captain Ben Sklaver to war, and the life-changing ripple effect that comes from such a loss. Orenstein shares with us a powerful, universal, and uplifting truth: that death is not the end of our story, nor does it sever the connection and love we feel with the most important people in our life.” —Kate Spencer, author of The Dead Moms Club and Co-Host of the Forever35 podcast