Sadness Young Adult Book Cover Design (Featuring girl, flower, and desk)

Visuals: The cover features an overhead view of a cluttered desk. At the center is a slightly faded, vintage-style family photo of a young girl, her older brother, and their parents. The father's face is obscured by a noticeable, jagged crack cutting through the photo. To the side, there are scattered items like a pencil, a worn-out notebook, and a dried flower, creating a somber and nostalgic atmosphere. The color palette consists of muted tones, enhancing the feeling of sadness and nostalgia.

Typography: The book title "The Grief That Took Her" is in a delicate serif font, suggesting both sophistication and fragility. The author name "Gillian Pinarski" is placed below the title in a simple sans-serif font to ensure clarity and contrast with the title.

Layout: The photo is centrally placed with the crack used as the focal point. The title is positioned above the photo in a curved line following the arch of the crack, while the author’s name is placed beneath the photo. Additional elements, like the pencil and dried flower, are spread around to direct the eye toward the photo and title.

Explanation: The visual composition centers on the family photo, emphasizing the crack over the father’s face, a metaphor for loss and absence. The scattered items around the desk add an emotional layer by suggesting memories and remnants of a disrupted life. The typography choice enhances the book's themes; a serif font brings forth the fragility of emotions, while a sans-serif font adds contrast and modernity. The layout ensures the cracked photo remains the focal point, guiding the viewer's emotional journey from the title through the depicted scene. The materials chosen reflect a desire to meld physical texture with visual design—the matte finish offers a somber, introspective quality while spot gloss on the crack accentuates the central theme of fractured familial bonds. This design captures the essence of grief and loneliness integral to the narrative.