Book review - My So-Called Family

 

Title: My So-Called Family

Author: Gia Gordon

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango

                      Looking for True by Tricia Springstubb

Rating:

well-written and realistic

Summary (provided by publisher): 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.

My opinion: I have read many books about kids in foster care. Kids finding their "forever family." Kids attempting to reconcile with biological families. Kids who are being abused. Ash's story doesn't match any of those narratives. The situation with Jordan is certainly concerning. It's a bit more gray and makes it more understandable that Ash is reluctant to speak up and ask for help. We see how systems that are set up to protect her are, in this case, letting her down. This is not always a comfortable read but its an important one. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley