About This Book
Reach for this book when your child begins asking complex questions about fairness, racial identity, or why some family secrets are kept hidden. It is an essential tool for navigating the intersection of personal identity and systemic injustice through the eyes of a resilient young girl. Set in 1944, the story follows twelve-year-old Ella as she travels from the Jim Crow South to the jazz-filled streets of Boston. As she searches for the truth about her absent father and her own light-skinned identity, she must also grapple with a tragic local event involving the wrongful arrest of a classmate. The book beautifully balances the warmth of family and the chill of historical reality. It is best suited for readers aged 10 to 12 who are ready for honest, nuanced discussions about race, grief, and the bittersweet nature of growing up.
