In-Between, The

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the hidden weight of financial stress, housing instability, or the feeling of being in a temporary life stage. This verse memoir captures the lived experience of a middle schooler moving into an extended-stay motel after an eviction, focusing on the preservation of dignity amidst hardship. It beautifully balances the heavy reality of poverty with the warmth of sibling bonds and the strength of a mother trying her best. While the subject is serious, the verse format makes the emotional journey accessible and surprisingly fast-paced. It is a powerful tool for building empathy for others or providing vital representation for children who feel their own living situations are something to hide. Most importantly, it validates that a home is defined by the people in it, not the walls around them.