Shayla's Double Brown Baby Blues

Reach for this book when your teenager feels replaced by a parent's new relationship or child. It is a raw and honest look at the messy feelings of being a second-family child. Shayla is thirteen and struggling with the fact that her estranged father's new baby was born on her own birthday, a coincidence that feels like a personal erasure. Beyond the family drama, Shayla navigates the intense realities of her friends' lives, including issues of neglect and alcoholism. This story is best for mature middle schoolers (ages 12-15) as it offers a realistic, unvarnished perspective on how to grow up when the adults in your life are far from perfect. It validates the sting of jealousy while encouraging empathy for others' struggles.