Alan and Naomi

Reach for this book when your child is starting to ask complex questions about why people suffer, or when they need to understand how patience and unconventional friendship can help heal deep emotional wounds. Set in 1944 Brooklyn, the story follows Alan, a boy who reluctantly agrees to help Naomi, a young refugee who has stopped speaking after witnessing Nazi brutality. Through the use of a ventriloquist puppet, Alan slowly builds a bridge to her world. This is a deeply moving exploration of empathy and the long road to recovery from trauma. While it deals with the heavy historical reality of the Holocaust, it focuses on the personal, day-to-day work of being a true friend. It is best suited for mature middle schoolers who are ready for a realistic, bittersweet ending that honors the complexity of mental health rather than offering easy answers.