The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

November is National Adoption Month. Specifically, November 9th is World Adoption Day.

Adoption helps so many people and changes their lives. Unfortunately, I don’t see too many books or other media that deal with adoption themes. I’ve only encountered a handful of books that addressed adoption.

One such book was What I Carry by Jennifer Longo.

This book follows Muir, who has grown up in foster care and is about to age out. She is sent to live with an older lady in Puget Sound, where she makes friends and meets a boy.

What I Carry doesn’t directly deal with adoption. There is a lot of talk of adoption, but it’s main focus is foster care. This book is still a high school book, so there is the high school drama and teenage romance.

This is such a good book, and I highly recommend it!

Summary from Goodreads: Growing up in foster care, Muir has lived in many houses. And if she’s learned one thing, it is to Pack. Light.
Carry only what fits in a suitcase.
Toothbrush? Yes.
Socks? Yes.
Emotional attachment to friends? foster families? a boyfriend? Nope!
There’s no room for any additional baggage.
Muir has just one year left before she ages out of the system. One year before she’s free. One year to avoid anything–or anyone–that could get in her way.

Then she meets Francine. And Kira. And Sean.

And everything changes.