All kids need a home and a family. Many kids around the world and in the United States find homes through adoption. There are 7 million adopted kids and adults in this country right now! Whether you're adopted or know someone who is, we can all relate to wanting to belong and have a home.
These stories for middle-grade readers need homes, too. Read one or a few to celebrate National Adoption Month.
The War That Saved My Life: Mistreated and disabled, 11-year-old Ada runs away to join her brother, who is being sent to the country to avoid German bombings during World War II. Ada struggles with her disability, and acceptance of her plight, against the backdrop of the war. Be sure to read the touching sequel, The War I Finally Won.
Patina: Patty, the fastest girl on her track team, deals with the emotions of losing one parent to death and the other to an inability to care for Patty and her brother due to a debilitating disability.
Three Pennies: An intense story about 11-year-old Marin, who bounces from foster home to foster home with only a few mementos from her birth mother. When she lands in the home of a loving doctor who hopes to adopt her, Marin frantically races to locate her birth mother before the adoption.
Just Like Me: This is a delightful coming-of-age story about three girls from the same Chinese orphanage who wind up in the same town. They learn to deal with the everyday struggles of all tween girls along with finding their own culture and identities.
The Year of the Baby: This follow-up to The Year of the Book finds Anna Wang dealing with her parents' adoption of a baby girl from China. This compelling story is sure to win over the hearts of readers as Anna tries to help her new sister, Kaylee, adapt to her new environment.