About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with authority, feeling like they are being pressured to conform, or experiencing a loss of their personal identity to fit into a group. It is an ideal choice for the child who feels like a square peg in a round hole, especially in a school or social setting that feels overly restrictive or unfair. The story follows Malo, a girl from a conquered nation sent to a strict reform school designed to erase her heritage and turn her into a 'proper' citizen of the empire. While it is set in a fictionalized historical world, the emotional core deals with the universal struggle of maintaining your true self when the world tells you that you are wrong. It is a sophisticated read for ages 8 to 12 that explores the cost of rebellion and the power of finding your own community.
