Main description:

Patricia MacLachlan, Newbery Medal–winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall, is celebrated for making emotions accessible to children through her gentle writing style. She brings this gift, as well as her talent for writing about families, to the chapter book The Truth of Me.
 
The Truth of Me tells the story of Robbie, who loves spending time with his grandmother Maddy. Robbie loves the stories Maddy tells, and also how wild animals trust her enough to come right up to her.
 
But Robbie has always felt as if something is missing in his life--his parents don’t always act like they love him. Maddy helps him understand that an experience his mother had long ago is at the heart of the problem in his family. With this knowledge, Robbie finds the courage to try to make things right.
 
This poignant story celebrates how our unique “small truths” make each of us magical and brave in our own ways.
 

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“A spare, poetically composed tale written in short chapters perfect for beginning read-it-alonereaders, this should resonate with young and old alike—and makes for a great intergenerational story to share.”

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“An elegant exploration of love and familial relationships...This story is well paced and rhythmic in its dialogue, lending itself well to a group read-aloud.”

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“Brief but emotionally intense...MacLachlan demonstrates her mastery of elegantly unfolding a tale and gently plucking at readers’ heartstrings without taking a maudlin tone.”

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Praise for Kindred Souls: “MacLachlan handles a familiar theme with grace, providing a lens into an uncanny intergenerational bond, as well as the kindness and generosity of love.”

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Praise for Kindred Souls: “The quiet rhythms of the story and the gentle banter of the dialogue make this an ideal group read aloud, but plenty of young readers will simply find it the perfect book to curl up with on their own.”

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Praise for Kindred Souls: “These are time-sculpted themes-the bond between a child and a grandparent, a child’s first experience of death, the comfort of continuity and connection to the natural world—and MacLachlan gives them her particular stamp of plain speaking and poetry.”