About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling to bridge the gap between who they are at home and who they want to be at school. It is particularly resonant for families experiencing the isolation of a new culture or for children who mask their insecurities with a layer of pride or judgment. Set in 1950s Harlem, the story follows Phyllisia, a girl from the West Indies who looks down on her classmate Edith because of Edith's poverty and unkempt appearance. Through the lens of grief and strict parenting, the book explores how we often push away the people we need most. It is an honest, sometimes painful look at the internal barriers we build to protect ourselves from being hurt. It offers a powerful opportunity to discuss empathy, the complexity of friendship, and the difficult process of taking accountability for our own social mistakes.
