About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the emotional weight of being 'different,' particularly regarding physical appearance or a disability. Susan Shreve's memoir-style story follows a young girl with a foot deformity resulting from polio, navigating the high-stakes social world of 1950s middle school. It beautifully captures the intersection of physical pain and the desperate adolescent desire for style and normalcy. Parents will appreciate the nuanced exploration of resilience and the ways a child finds their own footing, literally and figuratively, in a world that prizes perfection. It is a tender, sophisticated look at self-acceptance and the quiet courage required to stand out when you most want to blend in.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly and realistically with medical trauma and its impact on a young person's life. The approach is secular and grounded in historical reality. The resolution is hopeful and realistic rather than a 'miracle cure' trope, focusing on emotional growth and self-advocacy.
