Children’s / Teenage social topics: Identity / belonging

Book SynopsisNo matter what the music, no matter what our name. No matter what our language . . . our smiles are the same! This jolly rhyming book shares the comforting message that we all have equal value, no matter what our differences. With peep-through pages throughout and an irresistibly, squishy shiny rainbow at the end, this is the perfect book to celebrate individuality in an uplifting and accessible way for little ones. No matter what you look like, where you live or who your parents are, YOU belong – just as you are!

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the highly acclaimed, bestselling novel Pax comes a gorgeous and moving novel that is an ode to introverts, dreamers, and misfits everywhere, ideal for readers aged 912.Ware can't wait to spend summer off in his own world' and generally being left alone. But then his parents sign him up for dreaded Rec camp, where he must endure Meaningful Social Interaction and whatever activities so-called normal' kids do.On his first day Ware meets Jolene, a tough, secretive girl planting a garden in the rubble of an abandoned church next to the camp. Soon Ware starts skipping Rec, creating a castle-like space of his own in the church lot.Jolene scoffs, calling him a dreamer he doesn't live in the real world' like she does. As different as Ware and Jolene are, though, they have one thing in common: for them, the lot is a refuge. And when their sanctuary is threatened, Ware vows to save the lot.But what does a hero look like in real life? And what can two misfit kids do?Trade Review‘Pax the book is like Pax the fox: half wild and wholly beautiful.’The New York Times on Pax ‘A heart wrenching masterpiece about the relationship between a boy and his fox.’ Guardian on Pax

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Book SynopsisA Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book for TeensRaw and unflinching . . . A must-read! --Marieke Nijkamp, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of This Is Where It Ends[It] cuts to the heart of our bogus ideas of beauty. Scott Westerfeld, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Uglies I am ugly. There''s a mathematical equation to prove it.At only eight months old, identical twin sisters Ariel and Zan were diagnosed with Crouzon syndrome -- a rare condition where the bones in the head fuse prematurely. They were the first twins known to survive it.Growing up, Ariel and her sister endured numerous appearance-altering procedures. Surgeons would break the bones in their heads and faces to make room for their growing organs. While the physical aspect of their condition was painful, it was nothing compared to the emotional toll of navigating life with a facial disfigurement.Ariel explor

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Book SynopsisThis lyrical middle-grade novel-in-verse celebrates the power of story and of finding one’s individual voice. Keet knows the only good thing about moving away from her Alabama home is that she'll live near her beloved grandfather. When Keet starts school, it's even worse than she expected, as the kids tease her about her southern accent. Now Keet, who can "talk the whiskers off a catfish," doesn't want to open her mouth. While fishing with her grandfather, she learns the art of listening and gradually, she makes her first new friend. But just as she's beginning to settle in, her grandfather has a stroke, and even though he's still nearby, he suddenly feels ever-so-far-away. Keet is determined to reel him back to her by telling him stories; in the process she finds her voice and her grandfather again.Trade ReviewKirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year Winner of the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Arnold Adoff Poetry Honor Award A Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices Selection "Keet, a girl from Alabama, loves language and storytelling, but her family's move to Illinois makes her feel silenced.... Harrington perfectly captures her character's growth by using all the tools poetry provides: artfully chosen words, thought-provoking metaphors, appropriate rhythm and pacing, and changing points of view.... Harrington also includes various poetic forms and a postscript offering additional information about each of them: an unusual addition for a title of this format.... Keet's is a simple and familiar-feeling story, but one that is understated, fully realized, deftly written, and utterly absorbing."- School Library Journal, starred review "A gentle-spirited book about a black girl who almost gives up her gift but for love and friendship." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review "This lyrical novel in verse effortlessly weaves together multiple poetry forms to introduce readers to Katharen, called Keet, a young girl who loves to talk and spin stories.... The poems effectively convey conflicting emotions; different styles (haiku, concrete, blues, etc.,) express moods and nuances without being distracting... This is a wonderful addition to the novel-in-verse canon, whether enjoyed individually, shared as a read-aloud, or used as a class text." -Booklist

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