About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is struggling to understand a sibling's neurological differences or feels like the stable world they know is shifting beneath their feet. This story follows sixth-grader Laurel as she balances the typical stresses of middle school with the complex realization that her younger sister, Ivy, sees and interacts with the world in a fundamentally different way. It is a quiet, thoughtful exploration of neurodivergence, empathy, and the way we attach meaning to our physical environment, like a favorite climbing tree. Lynch captures the specific loneliness of the 'typical' sibling who feels responsible for protecting a sister while also grieving the loss of a simpler relationship. Parents will appreciate the book's gentle, secular approach to autism and the way it validates a child's sense of loss over environmental changes. It is an ideal choice for fostering family conversations about patience, perspective, and the invisible threads that connect us to one another.
