The Window

Reach for this book when your child is facing a major family transition, especially one involving a parent who must temporarily step away to focus on their own healing or recovery. It is a sensitive resource for children navigating the unsettling feeling of being placed in the care of relatives they barely know, offering a mirror for their anxiety and a window into a path toward belonging. The story follows Rayona, a young girl of mixed African American and Native American heritage, who is sent to live with her grandmother on a reservation while her mother seeks treatment. It gently explores themes of cultural identity, the complexity of family loyalty, and the quiet resilience required to build a sense of self when your world feels upended. This is a realistic, grounded choice for middle grade readers who need to see that even in moments of profound displacement, they can find their footing and discover new facets of their own story.