About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a significant loss or navigating the complex feelings of a parent's physical or emotional absence. Through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Salamanca Hiddle, this Newbery Medal winner explores how the stories we tell others often mirror the truths we are afraid to face ourselves. It is a deeply layered journey of grief, family secrets, and the slow process of coming to terms with reality. While the book contains moments of humor and adventure, it is ultimately a poignant tool for normalizing heavy emotions like sadness and confusion. Parents will appreciate how it models empathy and the importance of understanding another person's perspective before passing judgment. It is best suited for middle schoolers ready for a realistic, sophisticated look at the 'hardships of life' through a lens of love and resilience.
