The Return

Reach for this book when your child begins asking deep questions about why people are forced to leave their homes or how faith can provide strength during impossible hardships. The Return follows thirteen-year-old Desta, an Ethiopian Jew, as she embarks on a perilous secret trek across borders to reach Israel. It is a powerful exploration of religious identity, the weight of grief, and the fierce resilience required to survive as a refugee. While the journey involves significant danger and loss, it serves as a testament to the human spirit and the search for a place where one truly belongs. This historical novel is ideal for middle schoolers ready to engage with complex global histories and the emotional realities of the immigrant experience.