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Reach for this book when your child is facing a sudden, unfair shift in family circumstances or feels the heavy weight of having to give up their own dreams to support others. Through fourteen year old Opal, readers explore the complex emotions of shame and resentment that come when a parent is incarcerated and financial stability vanishes. This historical novel balances the harsh realities of early 20th century factory life with a blossoming sense of social justice and first love. It is a powerful choice for middle schoolers navigating their own identities while realizing that their parents are fallible human beings. The story ultimately validates that while we cannot always control our circumstances, we can choose who we become within them.