“A short and powerful evocation of a mother's death and of the events immediately preceding them. . . . those going through similar trials will take much solace from the author's story.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“In this quiet, lovely essay, Becker takes readers through the years and months leading up to her mother’s death and the mourning period that followed, delving into the grief of losing a much-loved parent. . . . Becker’s writing is so beautiful—and the process of grieving so universal—that it deserves a wide audience.”

—Publishers Weekly

Losing Helen is a compact essay whose themes probe deep. In Becker's reflective prose, she acknowledges that all "art making and writing is just an attempt to give... unfathomability form. I am not sure anyone... succeeds." Becker (The Invisible Drama) does indeed succeed--profoundly. This meditative, grace-filled gem is moving and soul-enriching.

—Shelf Awareness (starred review)