A powerful novel in verse about fitting in, standing out, defining your own self-worth, and what it takes to keep a fracturing family whole.
Virtual twins Linc and Holly were once extremely close. But while artistic, creative Linc is her parents' daughter biologically, it's smart, popular Holly, adopted from Ghana as a baby, who exemplifies the family's high-achieving model of academic success.
Linc is desperate to pursue photography, to find a place of belonging, and for her family to accept her for who she is, despite her surgeon mother's constant disapproval and her growing distance from Holly. So when she comes up with a plan to use her photography interests and skills to do better in school--via a project based on Seneca Village, a long-gone village in the space that now holds Central Park, where all inhabitants, regardless of race, lived together harmoniously--Linc is excited and determined to prove that her differences are assets, that she has what it takes to make her mother proud. But when a long-buried family secret comes to light, Linc must decide whether her mother's love is worth obtaining.
A novel in verse that challenges the way we think about family and belonging.
Praise for The Way the Light Bends
"I fell into Linc's world and found myself changed by her journey. Readers will fall in love with her and her struggles." -Dhonielle Clayton, author of the Tiny Pretty Things series and The Belles
"Achingly beautiful, honest and visceral. This is a must read for anyone who has questioned whether they belong." -Meg Wiviott, author of Paper Hearts
"Linc's struggle to chart her own future, unfolding in graceful verse, makes a compelling read." --Kirkus Reviews
"Give this book to any students who have ever felt invisible or who have ever struggled to feel at home in a traditional academic setting." --School Library Journal
"The meshing of word choice and space integrates the protagonist's inner struggles with her undeniable talent as a budding photographer." --Voice of Youth Advocates
"Rich with imagery that embodies longing and heart, a girl's desire to recapture what was, and her joy over discovering her own kind of success." --Booklist
"The book tugs at the heartstrings by focusing on family dynamics and expectations that are universal experiences." --School Library Connection
Praise for The Way the Light Bends
“I fell into Linc’s world and found myself changed by her journey. Readers will fall in love with her and her struggles.” --Dhonielle Clayton, author of the Tiny Pretty Things series and The Belles
“Achingly beautiful, honest and visceral. This is a must read for anyone who has questioned whether they belong.” --Meg Wiviott, author of Paper Hearts
"Linc’s struggle to chart her own future, unfolding in graceful verse, makes a compelling read." --Kirkus Reviews
"Give this book to any students who have ever felt invisible or who have ever struggled to feel at home in a traditional academic setting." --School Library Journal
"The meshing of word choice and space integrates the protagonist's inner struggles with her undeniable talent as a budding photographer." --Voice of Youth Advocates
"Rich with imagery that embodies longing and heart, a girl’s desire to recapture what was, and her joy over discovering her own kind of success." --Booklist
"The book tugs at the heartstrings by focusing on family dynamics and expectations that are universal experiences." --School Library Connection
two girls skipping in time everything alive, pulsing— the park the heartbeat of Manhattan, of who we used to be.
Holly doesn’t notice the beauty in the shape of a puddle the curved blade of grass, doesn’t remember jogs right by the trickling stream that became rushing water when our wands commanded. Too focused on her boyfriend Stefano on school on soccer for any memory of us.
I take picture after picture till I’m so far behind I’m not sure I can catch up.
In Rhythm
We used to be two girls walking hand in hand arms wrapped around each other tight her hand deep brown, mine, freckly, white, matching steps and skips our footsteps falling in rhythm
two beams of light two stretching shadows
moving side by side
in tempo in time.
Together, Apart
Now we are two girls walking through Central Park //together, apart//
one
hands wrapped tight around my camera, my phone
the other
hands wrapped tight around someone else t p w a o t h s