Living with Viola

Reach for this book when your child is struggling with the internal noise of anxiety, especially if they feel like they are living two different lives at home and at school. It is an essential choice for middle grade readers who feel like they are never quite enough or who are navigating the unique pressures of being a first generation immigrant. The story follows Livy, a young girl whose anxiety is personified as a shadow version of herself named Viola who whispers cruel things in her ear. As Livy navigates a new school, cultural expectations from her Chinese Canadian family, and the desire to fit in, she must learn how to quiet Viola and find her own voice. It is a deeply empathetic and visually striking tool for normalizing mental health struggles and validating the complex emotions of preteens.