Fox Point's Own Gemma Hopper

Reach for this book when your child feels overlooked or has taken on more responsibility than a kid should have to carry. It is a powerful choice for the child who is always cheering from the sidelines while their own talents wait for a turn. The story follows Gemma, a girl who manages the household chores and her brothers while her star-athlete brother gets the glory. As she discovers her own elite pitching talent, she must navigate the guilt of wanting something for herself. This graphic novel beautifully handles the complexity of sibling dynamics and the 'parentified' child in a single-parent, working-class home. It is perfectly pitched for middle-schoolers (ages 8 to 12) who are beginning to define themselves outside of their family roles. Parents will appreciate how it validates a child's need for personal ambition without devaluing their love for their family.