Diamond Willow

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with their place in the family or needs to see a model of quiet resilience after making a difficult mistake. It is perfect for the middle schooler who feels plain or overlooked, offering a beautiful meditation on how our ancestors and heritage provide a hidden foundation of strength. Willow is a twelve year old girl living in interior Alaska who feels she does not quite fit in at school. When a sledding accident during a solo trip to her grandparents' house results in a serious injury to her favorite dog, Roxy, Willow must navigate both the physical Alaskan wilderness and the emotional landscape of guilt and secrets. The story is told through diamond shaped concrete poetry, which mirrors the scars on willow trees and represents the 'story within a story' of her Athabascan heritage. It is a gentle yet profound exploration of cultural identity, the bond between humans and animals, and the way the past shapes our present.