The Other Half of Happy

Reach for this book when your child feels like they are living between two worlds or struggling to find their place in a family that is changing. Quijana is a twelve-year-old girl navigating her biracial identity, feeling 'not Guatemalan enough' because she doesn't speak Spanish, while also managing a crush and worrying about her younger brother's developmental shifts. It is a deeply empathetic look at the 'messy middle' of growing up. Parents will appreciate how the story handles complex family dynamics with grace and honesty. It explores the pressure of cultural expectations, the fear of losing a connection to an ailing grandparent, and the nuances of neurodivergence in siblings. This is a perfect choice for introspective tweens who are starting to realize that identity isn't a single piece of a puzzle, but a whole mosaic of experiences.