Judith Boivin's contemplative memoir, Gift of the Japanese Red Maple, elucidates her journey through grief, loss and guilt after her youngest son's suicide. Boivin uses writing as the self-prescribed treatment for processing her son's death as well as deep wounds haunting her from an earlier divorce. She probes and sifts through memories and experiences that ultimately lead to birthing a vibrant, self directed woman secure in her uniqueness and energized by life itself. Her formal education as a registered nurse, licensed clinical social worker and mental health provider adds credibility to her story, a must-read for anyone wanting to transform the traumatic loss of a loved one, especially a child, into new growth.