Even More Books About Belonging

Here’s my final list of books about belonging.  These continue, in a different way, to address questions like:  Do I belong?  Where?  Does being different matter?  Does location define me?  Am I acceptable as I am?  Tough questions from highly readable books.

The Other Boy written by M. G. Hennessey; illustrated by Sfe R. Monster; grades 5-7;

Shane appears to be a typical sixth grade boy.  He’s a star on the baseball team, has a best friend, and a crush on a girl, and he’s writer.  But Shane is keeping a secret.  A secret that may make a difference to his friends and teammates.  Shane was assigned female at birth but began to transition several years before he entered his new school, a fact his father cannot accept.  When a bully threatens to reveal his secret, Shane’s world begins to come apart.  The Other Boy deals with universal themes of bullying, fitting in, first love, and parental issues making this a story that will appeal to a wide range of ages.

Sarah, Plain and Tall written by Patricia MacLachlan; grades 3-6

This is the first book in a well known trilogy by Patricia MacLachlan.  Sarah, Plain and Tall is told from the perspective of 12 year old Anna.  It’s set in the 1800’s and is the story of Sarah, a young woman, who answers an advertisement for a wife and mother.  She travels all the way from her home in Maine to the prairie to meet Jacob, his daughter Anna (who tells the story), and son Caleb.  There she tries to adjust to a new landscape, family, and set of friends.  After many trials and a trip back to Maine, Sarah learns home is truly where her heart is…back on the prairie.  Ms. MacLachlan follows this book with Skylark, which finds Jacob and Sarah married and facing a devastating drought.  This third book is Caleb’s Story told from his perspective and reunites Jacob with his long lost father.  All three books deal with the issues of family, home, and belonging.  Sarah, Plain and Tall is a Newberry medal winner.

The Wild Robot written and illustrated by Peter Brown; grades 3-7

Roz, a robot, wakes up and finds herself on a remote and deserted island.  She has no idea how she arrived there but soon realizes she will have to adapt to her surroundings in order to survive.  She tangles with a vicious bear, a damaging storm, and tries to save a orphaned duckling.  When the other animals begin to help her, Roz starts to feel at home.  At home that is until her past begins to come back.  Even though as a robot Roz does not have emotions, the reader will.  This book raises questions such as “Is there a place for everybody in the ecosystem?” and “What is our responsibility to others?”