Gorgeous and moving and quiet and sad -- well, and hopeful, too. The language is extraordinary, painting pictures in the mind. The topics are real kid topics. It's good. ( )

I had to read this book a couple of times before I was able to fully understand the concepts but when I was finally able to understand it it was truly eye opening. The author uses great ways to talk about segregation without actually talking about it.

What a lovely little book! A white boy, who says he’s black, shows up in Frannie’s class in her black school. Her classmates struggle to understand this unusual kid. Very short but addresses big topics: religion, bullying, hope, death, etc. I picked this book because the main character’s brother is deaf. It described well his interactions with the listening world, & how thoughtless some folks can be about it. An excellent book for 4-5th grade. ( )

A beautifully written short novel! When a new (and very different) boy arrives at Frannie's school, his presence and his whiteness, set off deep questions. As she navigates the shifts in her world, she explores how she understands herself, her family, her friends, and her world. The book does not pretend to answer these questions neatly, but reflects on the the nature of hope in a challenging world. ( )

This is an excellent book that has many positive representations. It would be perfect for middle readers as some of the concepts are very profound and harder to understand. It is an inclusive book that shines a positive light on many tough issues like disabilities, segregation, being the new kid, and religion. ( )