Paper Chains

From the author of critically acclaimed Like Magic comes another sweet middle grade coming of age story about friendship, family, and discovering where you fit in the world. Katie and Ana are the kind of friends who share everything with each other. But there are some things you can’t even share with your best friend. Katie has always known she was adopted, but recently she’s been wondering about her birth parents, her birthplace, and her Russian heritage. She worries that saying this out loud—even to her best friend—could mess up the perfect family she has now. Ana’s family has been falling apart ever since her dad left, and it’s up to her to hold it together. But Ana fears no matter how hard she tries, her family may never be whole again. At a time when they need each other the most, the links between the girls are beginning to break. Before they lose each other, they must work through the tangles of secrets to the shining truth underneath: friendship, just like family, is worth fighting for. They both have secrets that could tear their families apart. But what if their biggest secret is the one they’re keeping from each other? A Story About Adoption: Katie has a loving family, but she can’t stop wondering about the birth parents she’s never known. A secret search for her past could risk the happy home she has now. Best Friend Drama: Katie and Ana share everything—except the one thing that matters most. When their individual struggles begin to build walls between them, their bond is pushed to its breaking point. Family Secrets: While Katie hides her questions about her birth family, Ana is hiding the fact that her own family is falling apart. Both girls feel like they have to fix things on their own. A Heartfelt Story: A gentle and emotional read for kids navigating the tough questions of identity, family, and what it means to truly belong.