One Step at a Time

Reach for this book when your child is facing a significant physical challenge, a long medical recovery, or is struggling to find their footing in a new environment. This moving memoir follows Tuyet, a young refugee from Vietnam, as she navigates life-changing surgery on her polio-damaged leg while adjusting to her new Canadian adoptive family. It is a powerful exploration of personal grit, the vulnerability of being a patient, and the patience required to heal. Through Tuyet's journey, children learn that bravery is not the absence of fear but the willingness to take the next small step. It is perfectly pitched for middle-grade readers, offering a realistic yet deeply hopeful look at overcoming physical and cultural barriers. Parents will value how it fosters empathy for those with disabilities and honors the strength of the refugee experience.