Shoddy Cove

A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful, empathetic child is feeling like an outsider or is grappling with big questions about fairness. Shoddy Cove is a gentle, layered story about Clare, a girl spending her summer working at a historical reenactment village in New England. She feels lonely until she discovers two young siblings who have run away from a neglectful home and are hiding on the island. While secretly helping them, Clare uncovers a parallel mystery from the 1830s about an impoverished family who was treated unfairly. This book is a wonderful choice for readers ages 9 to 12 as it thoughtfully explores themes of empathy, belonging, and social justice, showing how compassion can connect the past to the present and heal old wounds.