About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is struggling to find their place in a newly blended family or feeling displaced by a new sibling. At twelve years old, Cornie is navigating the messy reality of her parents' divorce and the arrival of a new half-sister, which makes her feel like the 'perfect family' is an impossible myth. Through a school photojournalism project, Cornie learns to look at her world through a different lens, realizing that love doesn't have to look like a postcard to be real. It is a comforting, realistic choice for middle-grade readers who need to know that feeling jealous or out of sorts during family transitions is normal. Hest captures the voice of a preteen perfectly, making this an ideal bridge for discussing how to embrace a 'new normal' without letting go of one's own identity.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book handles divorce and remarriage with a direct, secular, and highly realistic approach. It does not sugarcoat Cornie's frustration or the awkwardness of visiting a 'new' family unit. The resolution is hopeful but grounded in reality, emphasizing adaptation over a 'happily ever after' reunion of the original parents.
