This historical fiction set in the 1960s is told in 2nd person through Ariel’s eyes, which was such a great change of pace and I think many middle-grade readers would feel the same! It added an immediacy to the story and instantly drew me into Ariel's world view.
Set right after Loving vs Virginia, which overturned the law banning interracial marriages, Ariel’s older sister Leah elopes with Raj, an Inidan man who is not Jewish like Ariel's family. Leah's parents disown her and Leah leaves Ariel to grapple with the sudden absence of her sister and her parents' refusal to accept Raj. To make matters worse, Ariel struggles in school with an undiagnosed learning disorder and a bully. This is undoubtedly a lot for a middle-grade protagonist (and reader) to process, but the author handled it beautifully! Ariel discovers her voice in free verse poetry and finds inner strength through expressing herself through this medium. This is such a lovely story and would be a fantastic addition to classrooms/libraries everywhere!
Set right after Loving vs Virginia, which overturned the law banning interracial marriages, Ariel’s older sister Leah elopes with Raj, an Inidan man who is not Jewish like Ariel's family. Leah's parents disown her and Leah leaves Ariel to grapple with the sudden absence of her sister and her parents' refusal to accept Raj. To make matters worse, Ariel struggles in school with an undiagnosed learning disorder and a bully. This is undoubtedly a lot for a middle-grade protagonist (and reader) to process, but the author handled it beautifully! Ariel discovers her voice in free verse poetry and finds inner strength through expressing herself through this medium. This is such a lovely story and would be a fantastic addition to classrooms/libraries everywhere!