Families who loved My Name Is Seepeetza by Shirley Sterling often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is beginning to ask difficult questions about history, systemic unfairness, or why some people are forced to hide who they are. Written as a series of secret diary entries, this story follows Seepeetza, a young girl taken from her happy home to live at an Indian Residential School in the 1950s. It provides a vital window into the struggle to maintain one's identity and dignity when faced with strict rules and cultural erasure. While the subject matter is heavy, the book focuses on Seepeetza's internal resilience and her rich memories of family life. It is an essential choice for parents looking to build empathy and discuss social justice through a deeply personal, age-appropriate lens for middle-grade readers. It helps normalize the complicated feelings of shame and pride that come with navigating different worlds.