Books Like Where the Watermelons Grow
Families who loved Where the Watermelons Grow by Cindy Baldwin often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Where the Watermelons Grow by Cindy Baldwin 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 notice that a parent's health or behavior is unpredictable, or when they are taking on too much responsibility at home. It speaks directly to the 'parentified' child who feels they must fix things that are beyond their control. Set on a North Carolina farm, the story follows twelve-year-old Della as she navigates her mother's worsening schizophrenia during a hot summer. It is a deeply compassionate look at the intersection of mental illness, family loyalty, and the realization that love cannot always cure a medical condition. This is an ideal choice for middle-grade readers who need to hear that their parents' struggles are not their fault and that it is okay to be a child, even when things are hard. It balances the heavy reality of mental health with the sensory beauty of the outdoors and the steadying presence of community.
