Sensitive
by Sara Levine; illus. by Mehrdokht Amini
Primary    Carolrhoda    32 pp.
10/23    9781728450926    $18.99

This honest and validating book looks at how a young girl copes with the pain she feels in being labeled “too sensitive” and told to grow “thicker skin.” How can she change something she can’t control? “Her skin must actually have been quite thin because she could feel their words passing into her.” Amini’s textured collage illustrations effectively convey the overwhelming effects of the criticisms, showing the heavy words swirling around the child’s head and ultimately pouring into her body, darkening the space around her. “Finally, it got so crowded…that she couldn’t hear her own thoughts or feel her own feelings.” With space, rest, and quiet, she eventually knows how to turn those mean words into something positive and empowering. The emotionally resonant text and striking illustrations capture the healing one can find in art and creativity. The text seems best suited for elementary-aged children, though the powerful message resounds for all ages.

From the November/December 2023 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.