The Name She Gave Me

A heartbreakingly beautiful novel in verse about adoption, family, friendship, and love in all its many forms, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson, from the acclaimed author of Three Things I Know Are True.

Rynn was born with a hole in her heart—literally. Although it was fixed long ago, she still feels an emptiness there when she wonders about her birth family.

As her relationship with her adoptive mother fractures, Rynn finally decides she needs to know more about the rest of her family. Her search starts with a name, the only thing she has from her birth mother, and she quickly learns that she has a younger sister living in foster care in a nearby town. But if Rynn reconnects with her biological sister, it may drive her adoptive family apart for good.

This powerful story uncovers both beautiful and heartbreaking truths and explores how challenging, yet healing, family can be.

One name. Two sisters. A second chance that could cost her everything.

Finding Your Birth Family: Armed with a single name—Scheherazade—Rynn begins a search for the mother she’s never known, only to uncover a truth she never expected. A Sister in Foster Care: The stunning discovery that she has a younger sister, Ella, living in a nearby town offers a chance at the connection Rynn has always craved. Complicated Mother-Daughter Relationships: As Rynn grows closer to her past, the already-fractured bond with her adoptive mother threatens to shatter completely, forcing an impossible choice. Heartfelt Coming of Age: A powerful story told in beautiful, accessible verse about identity, what it means to be family, and healing the literal and metaphorical holes in your heart.