FORGET-ME-NOT BLUE

A 10-year-old navigates the uncertainty of life with an unreliable parent while holding on to hope.

Sofie has lived in difficult circumstances for a long time. Her mom has struggled with drug use and abusive relationships for much of Sofie’s life. They live in poverty in Des Moines, Iowa, making frequent visits to the community center for free lunches and to borrow books, which Sofie takes comfort in. Although Sofie aches for her mother’s elusive support, it becomes clear that she has love and support from Con, her 13-year-old brother; her recently sober great-grandfather; and family friend Tommy, her mom’s boss at the restaurant. But her mother’s erratic nature causes Sofie to harbor a persistent sense of unease and fear of abandonment. When her mother disappears for weeks and is subsequently sent to prison for crimes committed with her boyfriend, the question arises of determining an appropriate guardian. Life from Sofie’s perspective is painfully but realistically conveyed, and the portrayal will resonate especially with readers with experience of poverty, addiction, or family trauma. Amid fears and crises, there are still small comforts to be found, capturing feelings of inherent value in her family. As the search for a caregiver finds a happy, albeit unlikely, resolution, the complex mood evoked by Moranville for much of the book is set aside for a softer landing. Most characters appear to be White.

A poignant, pointed portrayal of the heavy burden parental instability places on a family.