About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle-grade reader is navigating a major life transition, feeling overlooked within a busy family, or beginning to explore their own identity and crushes. This tender story follows twelve-year-old Ivy, whose world is literally upended when a tornado destroys her home and displaces her family. Amidst the chaos of living in a crowded hotel and a temporary rental, Ivy grapples with a private secret: she is developing feelings for another girl, and her sketchbook documenting those feelings has gone missing. It is a beautiful exploration of the need to be truly 'seen' by those we love. The book handles themes of grief and displacement with great care, making it appropriate for ages 8 to 12. Parents will appreciate how it balances the external drama of a natural disaster with the internal, quiet journey of self-discovery. It provides a mirror for children questioning their orientation and a window for others to understand the vulnerability of coming out. Ultimately, it is a story about the resilience of family bonds and the courage it takes to speak your truth when the world feels loud and confusing.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
DISTRESS: The opening chapters depict the visceral terror of a tornado. Ivy and her siblings huddle in a bathtub while their home is destroyed around them. The aftermath includes depictions of significant loss, such as the death of the family dog and the total destruction of personal belongings. This may be intense for children who have experienced weather-related trauma. CONVERSATION: Be prepared to discuss the feeling of being 'invisible' in a family. Ivy feels her needs are secondary to her siblings' crises. Parents might also need to discuss the fear associated with privacy and 'outing,' as Ivy is terrified of her sketchbook being found by the wrong person.
Ideal Reader
A thoughtful 10-year-old who enjoys character-driven stories and may feel like they are currently existing in the shadow of their siblings or peers.
Parent Prep
Read the first two chapters to gauge if the natural disaster descriptions are too intense for your child. The scene where Ivy realizes her parents are too overwhelmed by the disaster to notice her emotional crisis can be heartbreaking for any caregiver.
Age Experience
Younger readers (8-9) will likely focus on the mystery of the notes and the 'coolness' of the middle school setting. Older readers (11-12) will deeply resonate with the nuances of Ivy's internal journey toward self-acceptance and her changing relationship with her older sister.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many stories that focus solely on the 'coming out' process, this book masterfully weaves that journey into a survival story, showing that personal identity doesn't pause just because a crisis occurs. The ending provides a beautiful model of family support and validation.
Read plot summary
After a devastating tornado levels her house, twelve-year-old Ivy Aberdeen feels lost in the shuffle of her family's displacement. While her parents focus on her older sister and newborn twin brothers, Ivy is panicked because her sketchbook, filled with drawings of girls she likes, disappeared during the storm. Soon, pages from her book begin appearing in her locker with encouraging notes from an anonymous source. As Ivy navigates a new crush on a girl named June, she must decide if she is ready to share her true self with her family.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Ivy feels 'invisible' at the beginning of the book. Have you ever felt like the people around you weren't really seeing what you were going through?
2
The tornado took away Ivy's physical home, but her sketchbook was her 'emotional' home. Why do you think she was more upset about the book than her room?
3
When Ivy starts receiving her drawings back in her locker, she feels both scared and hopeful. Why can someone knowing your secret feel scary and good at the same time?
4
How does Ivy's relationship with her older sister, Layla, change throughout the story? What helps them understand each other better?
5
If you had to write a 'letter to the world' like the title suggests, what is one thing you would want everyone to know about you?
