Naming Maya

Reach for this book when your child is struggling with a sense of displacement, whether from a physical move or the loss of a family home that held their history. It is a sensitive exploration of Maya, an Indian American girl who travels to Chennai with her mother to settle her grandfather's estate and sell the family house. As Maya navigates her grief and her complicated relationship with her heritage, she learns that home is more than a building. This story is perfect for children aged 9 to 12 who are beginning to understand that identity is multilayered. It offers a gentle roadmap for saying goodbye to the past while finding one's place in a global, modern world. Parents will appreciate how it validates the feeling of being an outsider in one's own culture.