Wrestling with life questions

Hope in the Valley

Mitali Perkins
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2023)

As summer kicks off in Silicon Valley, Pandita Paul attends drama camp where she meets new friends, confronts old ones, and learns to find her “voice.” At home, her mother’s death haunts Pandita, especially as her father begins dating again and a heated town debate divides her sisters. Author Mitali Perkins incorporates many Christian virtues such as honesty and courage, but she also follows the trend of centering her story on ethnic and political identities. Conservative kids may tire of the adult themes of political activism and low-rent housing, and the story’s lack of exciting action may deter reluctant readers. Positive elements include strong familial love—despite conflict—and Pandita’s chaste crush on Leo, the new kid. Ages 10-12

White Bird: A Novel

R.J. Palacio with Erica S. Perl
(Knopf Books 2023)

The film version of R.J. Palacio’s 2019 graphic novel White Bird arrives in theaters later this fall. In June, Palacio and her co-writer released a new novelized version of the book. This spinoff of Palacio’s ­earlier story, Wonder, is a heartfelt story featuring teenage Julian, who interviews his Jewish grandmother over FaceTime and learns how caring neighbors in Nazi-occupied France came to her rescue. Palacio’s call to compassion over cruelty will resonate with Christ-followers, though readers should note that several discussions downplay God’s importance, urging simplistic calls to action. Parents won’t appreciate repeated scenes of two teens alone in a hiding place (only a kiss results). Ages 10+

You Don’t Know What War Is

Yeva Skalietska
(Union Square & Co. 2022)

“I couldn’t breathe and my hands turned cold and sweaty. The war had begun.” Yeva Skalietska, 12, begins her diary on Feb. 24, 2022—the day Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Short diary entries trace her family’s experience in Kharkiv—huddled in basements—through her resettlement in Dublin, Ireland, a month later. Skalietska’s writing is simpler than Anne Frank’s, but her crisp, clear descriptions of childlike innocence alongside life-threatening decisions will draw in readers of all ages. Skalietska occasionally uses words like “hell” to describe war, but she also prays and gives God thanks for His help. An audiobook version can help families think through issues of war and national identity together. Ages 10+

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen

Isaac Blum
(Philomel Books 2022)

In this 2022 long-list selection for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, Orthodox Jew Hoodie Rosen develops a friendship with non-Jewish neighbor Anna-Marie. The plot follows their ­relationship, even as antisemitism and city politics bring their ­cultures into violent conflict. Younger readers should skip this book for its one scene of gun violence and repeated use of Christ’s name in vain. But families with older teens headed to college will find Rosen’s story thoughtful, funny, and steeped in cultural idols—such as prioritizing romantic desire over religious identity. It provides an excellent opportunity to consider why a life centered on love and law apart from Christ isn’t enough. Ages 16+