The Length of a String

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with questions of belonging, identity, or the feeling of being an outlier within their own family or community. It is an essential resource for families navigating the nuances of adoption and the universal desire to understand one's roots. The story follows twelve-year-old Imani, a Black girl being raised in a Jewish family, as she prepares for her bat mitzvah while longing to find her birth parents. When she discovers her great-grandmother Anna's diary from the Holocaust era, she realizes that the feeling of not quite fitting in is a thread that connects her to her family's past in unexpected ways. This novel handles sensitive topics like the Holocaust and the complexities of transracial adoption with grace and nuance. It is perfectly suited for middle grade readers who are beginning to explore their own multifaceted identities and the stories that shaped their ancestors.