About This Book
Reach for this book when your daughter is navigating the bruising transition of middle school, where old friendships are shifting and she feels suddenly uncomfortable in her own skin. It is a deeply honest look at Emi-Lou, a girl in Hawaii who feels like a 'nobody' as she watches her best friend, Von, change in ways she cannot follow. The story tackles the raw ache of feeling left behind, the confusion of body image, and the search for a self-defined identity when you do not fit the popular mold. Because it deals with the complexities of puberty, sexuality, and self-worth with unflinching realism, it is best suited for older middle schoolers (ages 12-15). Parents will appreciate how it validates the intense loneliness of the 'in-between' years while offering a path toward self-acceptance that does not rely on peer approval. It is a powerful tool for opening conversations about what it means to be a loyal friend to others and, more importantly, to oneself.
