The List of Things That Will Not Change

Bea is a kid with big feelings who’s navigating major changes. After her parents’ divorce, she finds stability in a list of constants: that each of her parents will always love her; that she’ll always have a home with each of them; that they are still a family.

I felt Bea’s waves of elation and anger so intensely that some moments made me feel like my heart might burst. Ultimately, the love and support she receives from the adults in her life helped me remember my own things that will not change.

Meet ten-year-old Bea, whose parents are recently divorced and whose dad is getting ready to marry his boyfriend Jesse. Bea struggles with change, so her parents make a list to reassure her that none of the things that really matter to her will change after the divorce. My own children, like Bea, have lots of caring adults in their lives, some biologically related and some not, and I loved seeing this kind of complex, blended family represented so beautifully on the page. This book also helps readers to reflect on what they can change in their lives, and which situations… show more.