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Me, in the Middle

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Book Synopsis

Miss Clark has an exciting project for the class to work on – exploring their family trees! But when each child is asked to point to the place their parents come from on a map, Georgie doesn’t know which parent to choose – her dad is from Africa but her mum is from the UK. Where does she fit in?

Georgie dreads having to draw her family tree as homework but once she starts working on it, with the help of her parents she realises how special it is that the branches stretch so far and wide! And as the class all share their own family trees, the children begin to explore and celebrate each others’ heritage, and realise that all of their roots dig down into the same rich earth – so they’re not that different after all. A wonderfully life affirming picture book that celebrates diversity in all its forms.

Our Review Panel says...

Me, in the Middle is a brilliant and inclusive picture book that touches upon the different family trees that we all have and how this makes us different, unique and wonderful.

Initially started as work in school, Georgie is worried about creating her family tree, as she isn’t sure where she belongs. Working with her parents and looking at pictures of her family, she soon realises that her family tree stretches far and wide, across different continents, representing her mixed heritage. The comparison to tree branches runs throughout the story and is symbolic of the different family trees: not one looks the same as the other and that is okay. Some trees, like families, spread far and wide, whilst others are tall and narrow. In particular, the reference to all tree roots digging down into the same rich earth is a pivotal message about the importance of inclusion and sense of belonging, as well as being proud of your roots.

Various family trees are explored including one with adoption and two mums. The illustrations used throughout the book are engaging and beautiful. Readers will enjoy studying the different trees and may even spot one that symbolises their own family tree. The vocabulary used make the story easy to follow and could be used as part of a PSHE lesson to support with learning about families.Overall, this was a very enjoyable read, which leaves a lasting impression on the reader about the importance of celebrating difference.