When You Look Like Us

Reach for this book when your teenager is expressing frustration with systemic inequality or feeling like their community is overlooked by those in power. It is a powerful choice for families navigating conversations about how race impacts the way missing persons cases are handled by the media and law enforcement. The story follows Jay, a Black teen in Newport News, Virginia, who must search for his missing sister, Nicole, when the police and the public show little interest in her disappearance. Through Jay's journey, the book explores themes of family loyalty, the weight of reputation, and the resilience required to fight for justice when the system fails you. While it is a gripping mystery, it serves a deeper purpose by validating the anger and fear felt by young people who see their loved ones treated as invisible. It is most appropriate for high school students ready to engage with realistic portrayals of social injustice and urban life.