Violet and the Pie of Life

Twelve-year-old Violet loves math and uses it to quantify her experiences and relationships. Math can’t help her, though, when fights between her parents increase in intensity and frequency. When Violet’s father walks out, she struggles to adjust to her new normal and despite the excitement of being a lead in the school play, having a good new friend, and a cute crush, she can’t handle her father abandoning her on her own and must dig deep to find her own courage. This contemporary novel, with richly developed and relatable characters, is suitable as a class read-aloud, independent novel study, or for literature circles focused on identity, self-discovery, family relationships, and friendship.