[TOMT][BOOK][2000-2010’s?] grief-filled book that’s stuck with me for years on end now

r/

I remember a lot of the content in the book, just not the title. Can’t remember if it was a stray children’s novel I picked up, or a lengthy book. It was about grief and acceptance after the death of a young baby. There was a mom and an older sister I believe. The baby’s name had Joy in it, perchance it was Joy Ann? The baby died due to drinking un-safe water during a carnival the family went to. The baby drunk the water out of a baby bottle. It was mentioned that the mother and sister (?) didn’t die due to drinking coca cola offered to them instead of the dirty water. The baby had a nameplate, which had the word Joy on it somewhere. I believe it was either through the sister’s or the neighbor’s perspective, showing the cycle of grief and then near the end showing that the family could finally accept the death of the young child. Not sure if this is accurate but I believe the water and coca cola were offered to the family by an unknown man. The cover may or may not have had a balloon on it.

Comments

  1. Pr0j3ct-T1me Avatar

    I don’t believe the name had joy in it (unless I’m incorrect), and it was very grim in the beginning

  2. TipOfTheirTongue Avatar

    Participants on this thread will automatically be notified when it is solved. Click here if you’re not leaving a suggestion but would like to be notified.