Lasagna Means I Love You

A parent would reach for this book when their child is navigating the heavy weight of grief, the instability of the foster care system, or a profound search for where they fit in. It is a compassionate choice for middle grade readers who feel untethered by loss and need to see that family can be built from the ground up when traditional structures fail. After Mo's grandmother passes away and her uncle abandons her, she enters foster care with nothing but a notebook and a growing obsession with other people's family recipes. Through the act of cooking and collecting stories, Mo processes her loneliness and begins to define what belonging actually means. The story deals honestly with the pain of rejection and the complexities of the system, but it is ultimately a hopeful roadmap for emotional resilience. It is best suited for children ages 8 to 12 who are ready for a realistic, deeply moving exploration of found family.