{"product_id":"the-name-she-gave-me-isbn-9780063157835","title":"The Name She Gave Me","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA heartbreakingly beautiful novel in verse about adoption, family, friendship, and love in all its many forms, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson, from the acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eThree Things I Know Are True\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRynn was born with a hole in her heart—literally. Although it was fixed long ago, she still feels an emptiness there when she wonders about her birth family.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs her relationship with her adoptive mother fractures, Rynn finally decides she needs to know more about the rest of her family. Her search starts with a name, the only thing she has from her birth mother, and she quickly learns that she has a younger sister living in foster care in a nearby town. But if Rynn reconnects with her biological sister, it may drive her adoptive family apart for good.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis powerful story uncovers both beautiful and heartbreaking truths and explores how challenging, yet healing, family can be.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCan she heal the hole in her heart without creating a new one in her family?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Long-Lost Sister:\u003c\/b\u003e Rynn’s search for answers leads her to Ella, a younger sister she never knew existed, who has been living in foster care just a town away.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFractured Family Dynamics:\u003c\/b\u003e A raw and honest portrayal of a strained adoptive mother-daughter relationship, and the difficult choice between the family that raised you and the one you were born into.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Journey of Self-Discovery:\u003c\/b\u003e As Rynn pieces together the truth of her past, she must confront her own feelings of identity, belonging, and what it truly means to be whole.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHeartfelt and Emotional Storytelling:\u003c\/b\u003e Told in beautiful, accessible verse, this story captures the powerful emotions of first meetings, difficult truths, and the unbreakable bond between sisters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e | \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eThree Things I Know Are True\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: \"Culley’s compelling free-verse poems accumulate into a poignant story of a family that was already struggling and then transformed into something unrecognizable. Liv’s narration is touching, honest, and perceptive. A story of love and resilience as much as loss and grief.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Introspective and inquisitive Liv's free-verse narration vividly explores the rift between her family and Clay's; memories of her late father; and the difficulty of surviving in her economically depressed small town. Above all, her spare, blunt lines convey her love for Jonah; her exhaustion and loneliness as her friends and overworked, overwhelmed mother grow distant; and the nuances of guilt and forgiveness. Liv's struggle with the \"little animal \/ inside\" her that yearns for attention even as she acknowledges that Jonah \"needs everything\" is piercingly realistic. A poignant, humanizing exploration of a sadly timely issue.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"An emotional journey that follows a life-altering tragedy. Culley weaves carefully chosen details into a slowly forming tapestry. A tale that is both harrowing in subject matter and elegant in execution.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eALA Booklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A heartbreaking story about a topic that is too prevalent in today’s society.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003ePoetic verse is deployed with a poignant beauty... The journey for Rynn here is as much about finding her birth family as it is about finally realizing she is loveable and loved by so many people. A bittersweet conclusion brings Rynn as much closure as she’s going to get with both her mothers, but readers will be grateful to see her looking toward a future of self-discovery now that the past has been put to rest.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the Center for Children’s Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"The verse format really worked for the kind of straightforward way Rynn tells her story. Her story has the many layers that so many adoption stories have: unknown histories and people, feelings of loose ends and loss, sudden discoveries of family, complicated feelings, and new connections. The people she is surrounded by are so vividly drawn and unique. Rynn is so vulnerable, so clearly aching to fill what she’s always felt as holes in her life. This compassionate and quiet story is a beautiful and poignant look at family, belonging, and self-discovery.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTeen Librarian Toolbox\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e?\"Eloquent narrative verse. Culley deftly captures the community’s nuanced responses and the heartbreak both families navigate as this devastating tragedy becomes a political battleground.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Told in spare, evocative verse, \u003cem\u003eThe Name She Gave Me\u003c\/em\u003e is a love letter to anyone finding their way home. Betty Culley’s characters have worked their way into my heart and will stay with me long after finishing their beautiful story.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJoy McCullough, New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-longlisted author of Blood Water Paint\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003eVariously scarred by past addiction, poverty, bad health, and bad luck, the well-drawn characters... largely prove resilient and kind. An adoptee herself, Culley writes with insight and nuance about biological families and those formed in other ways. The direct, straightforward poems effectively flesh out the characterization and are accessible to reluctant readers. Compassionate and compelling.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003eEmotions run high in this novel-in-verse. [Culley] portrays these families in nuanced ways as connections are forged. Melodic verse is perfect for the poignant moments that cultivate both compassion and hope.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003eWistful verse highlights small but telling moments throughout Rynn’s search... The author’s lived history with foster care and adoption gives the narrative nuance and authority. Emotionally complex and empathetic characters and a faithfully depicted rural landscape form an exemplary backdrop for this contemplative novel.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44889723404517,"sku":"NP9780063157835","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780063157835.jpg?v=1730231821","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-name-she-gave-me-isbn-9780063157835","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}