The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is grappling with the 'ghost kingdom' of adoption, specifically the haunting question of who they might have been if they had stayed with their biological family. This unique speculative memoir blends Shannon Gibney's real life as a Black girl adopted into a white family with a fictional, sci-fi reimagining of the life of 'Erin,' the girl she might have been. It is a sophisticated exploration of transracial adoption, medical history, and the search for identity that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant for any teen feeling out of place. Due to its complex structure and themes of grief and systemic racism, it is best suited for high schoolers who are ready to engage with the messy, unresolved realities of family and heritage.