Quaking by Kathryn Erskine

Here is the book on Amazon.

This book pulled me in from the first line: "Families come in all varieties but with no warranties." I thought to myself "Well, I'm sure many adolescents will be able to relate to this!"

The story that unfolds in this book is quite a triple-threat. It tackles finding one's voice, religion and the varying interpretations of family. It does all that in a way that doesn't feel cliche or predictable. Matt, the young woman in the center of the story. Her real name is Matilda, but as you come to know her, you realize she defiantly prefers to be called Matt. Anyways, the book opens with Matt on her way to a foster home to live in a Quaker community.

Matt is a little rough around the edges and the Quaker lifestyle is a lot for her to adjust to. This book follows her journey as she becomes part of the community and her growth as she becomes part of a family.

This book would be great to use in the classroom for a variety of reasons. I really like the way it includes a look at war and the Quaker's emphasis on peace. I think this book would be a great way to teach students more about religion and also to explore the different interpretations of family. All students have different family structures and I think this book really explores that in a mature and yet accessible way for a variety of ages.