Leo and the Lesser Lion

A parent would reach for this book when their child is struggling with the heavy weight of 'living up' to a sibling, especially one who is no longer there. Set in the 1930s, this story follows Leo, a young girl whose life is overshadowed by the memory of her late twin brother, Bayard. It explores the complex mix of grief, resentment, and the search for individual identity within a family that is stuck in the past. This historical novel is appropriate for middle-grade readers who are beginning to understand that parents are fallible and that grief has no expiration date. It is a quiet, moving choice for children experiencing sibling rivalry or those who feel like they are second best in their own homes.