Almost Home

A parent would reach for this book when their child is navigating the messy transition of a blended family or feeling like an outsider in their own home. Leah Baer has spent years being bounced between parents, but her latest move to her father's house and his new wife feels particularly permanent and isolating. It is a quiet, thoughtful story about a girl trying to figure out where she fits when the definition of home keeps shifting. Nora Raleigh Baskin captures the specific ache of being a guest in your own living room with deep empathy and realism. This story is perfect for middle grade readers (ages 8 to 12) who are sensitive to family dynamics and are looking for a character who understands the complexity of loving parents who do not live together. It offers comfort by showing that while you cannot control your family structure, you can find your own voice and a sense of belonging through friendship and creative expression.