Arilla Sun Down

A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful, introspective child is struggling to understand their place within a family or a mixed-heritage background. This classic novel follows twelve-year-old Arilla, who feels plain and ordinary next to her charismatic older brother, Jack Sun Run. As a girl of Black and Native American descent, she quietly searches for her own identity, separate from the one her brother so boldly claims. Told in a unique style that blends the present with dreamlike memories, it is a deep, rewarding read for mature middle-grade readers (10-13) ready to explore complex ideas about selfhood, family history, and what it means to truly belong to yourself.