World Made of Glass

Written by Ami Polonsky

A girl confronts grief and prejudice as her father battles AIDS.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 855 ratings

288 pages· 50,565 words· Est. 7 hour read

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

In the shadow of the AIDS pandemic, Iris struggles with her father's impending death and the silence surrounding it. As she navigates school and friendships, she channels her grief into activism, challenging fear and misinformation. With only memories and poems to hold onto, Iris embarks on a journey to uncover hidden facets of her father and herself. Will she find her voice amidst the chaos and loss? This poignant tale of love, family, and resilience explores the power of speaking out and the discovery of one's true self.

From the publisher

A girl channels her grief and pain into love and activism in this heartbreaking, heart-mending novel of family, friendship, and community. Iris tries to act normal at school, going through the motions and joking around with her friends. But nothing is normal, and sometimes it feels like she’ll never laugh again. How can she, when her dad is dying of a virus that’s off-limits to talk about? When she knows that soon all she’ll have left of her kind, loving dad are memories, photos, and a binder full of the poems they used to exchange? In a sea of rage and grief, Iris resolves to speak out against the rampant fear, misinformation, and prejudice surrounding AIDS–and find the pieces of Dad that she never knew before. Along the way, Iris might just find new sides to herself. Award-winning author Ami Polonsky has crafted a lyrical, tender, earth-shattering novel that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.