About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is feeling the 'middle child' squeeze or struggling with the loss of personal space as your family expands. Ten year old Adine is the oldest of five girls, and the arrival of a sixth baby brings a new level of chaos: including an eccentric aunt moving into her bedroom. It is a gentle, realistic look at the territorial feelings and quiet frustrations that come with being part of a large, busy household. While many books focus only on the joy of a new sibling, Kevin Henkes captures the messy reality of sharing, the need for a space to call one's own, and the anxiety of being overlooked. It is a sophisticated but accessible choice for elementary readers who are navigating changes in their domestic landscape and looking for a way to voice their own needs for independence and respect.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with the stress of family expansion and the loss of privacy. The approach is secular and highly realistic. While there are no tragedies, the emotional weight of feeling 'invisible' is handled with deep empathy. The resolution is realistic: the house remains crowded, but Adine finds internal and external ways to reclaim her sense of self.
