Families who loved Pink Hair and Other Terrible Ideas by Andrea Pyros 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 middle schooler is grappling with a family health crisis or feeling the weight of a secret they aren't ready to share. It is an essential choice for children who are trying to maintain a sense of normalcy while their domestic world feels like it is shifting beneath their feet. Twelve year old Josephine (Joseph) is navigating the typical hurdles of seventh grade: changing friendships, a twin brother who is pulling away, and the stress of a big talent show. However, her life is complicated by her mother's breast cancer diagnosis. The story beautifully captures the 'sandwich' of middle school life, where the pressure to fit in at school meets the heavy reality of illness at home. It is a realistic, hopeful, and deeply relatable guide for navigating big life changes without losing one's own identity.
