Count Me In

A parent might reach for this book when their middle grader is struggling to find their place in a newly blended family, especially with the news of a new baby on the way. It tells the story of thirteen-year-old Katie, who is already adjusting to a new stepfather and stepsister when she learns her mother is pregnant. The news sends her into a spiral of jealousy and loneliness, feeling like she's being replaced. This book compassionately explores her journey as she navigates these big, complicated emotions. Appropriate for ages 10 to 14, Count Me In provides a gentle, realistic look at the internal world of a child in a changing family. It's an excellent choice for normalizing feelings of resentment and insecurity, offering comfort and showing that it's possible to find your place and feel love again, even when it seems impossible.