The Eyes of Van Gogh

The Eyes of Van Gogh is a poignant chapter book about a young protagonist, Jude, who has experienced a nomadic childhood due to her 'peripatetic' mother. The story explores Jude's deep longing for a stable home, lasting friendships, and a sense of identity. Her journey takes a hopeful turn when her estranged grandmother suffers a stroke, prompting Jude and her mother to move to the same town. This unexpected change offers Jude the opportunity to build roots, forge new connections, and explore her own purpose, possibly through art, as she grapples with family challenges and the universal quest for belonging. It's suitable for children aged 8-11 who are navigating feelings of displacement or seeking their place in the world.

After many moves with her peripatetic mother, seventeen-year-old Jude begins to believe that she has finally found a home, friends, and some purpose in life when the grandmother she never knew has a stroke and she and her mother come to live in the same town to be near her.