My So-Called Family

By Gia Gordon

A foster child must navigate trust and danger while searching for a true family.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 166 ratings

272 pages

$8.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Ash, a foster child, faces a daunting school project: creating a family tree without a family. As she finds solace in her favorite tree, danger lurks closer in the form of Gladys' son, Jordan. With trust in short supply, Ash must decide who to turn to for help. Can new friendships and school allies guide her to a sense of belonging, or will the shadows of her past keep her isolated? Discover Ash's journey of self-advocacy and the quest for a real family in this heartfelt tale.

From the publisher

A moving middle grade debut about foster care, self-advocacy, and realizing that a found family is a real family.”I loved every page–a gorgeous rendering of what it means to find home in ourselves and others.” –Mariama J. Lockington, Stonewall Honor and Schneider Family Book Award winning author of In the Key of Us and Forever is Now It’s the first week of middle school, and Ash (don’t call her “Ashley”) already has a class assignment: Make a family tree. But how can Ash make a family tree if she doesn’t have a family? Ever since she was four years old, Ash has been in foster care, living with one so-called family after another. Now she’s stuck with Gladys. And the only place Ash feels safe is in the branches of her favorite tree, drawing in her sketchbook, hidden from the view of Gladys’ son Jordan. As Jordan becomes harder to hide from, and more dangerous to be around, Ash isn’t sure who she can trust. A new friend, an old friend, some teachers at school? Sometimes the hardest part of asking for help is knowing who to ask. In My So-Called Family, Gia Gordon weaves a lyrical story about complicated family dynamics that’s perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and Counting by 7s.

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