Spirit Level

When a breakup leaves donor-conceived young woman Harriet feeling unmoored, she tracks down her half-siblings in Seattle and finds more than she bargained for: an effervescent dancer, a troubled girl named Meredith, and Alex — Meredith's best friend, with whom Harry falls in love. Sarah N. Harvey weaves in themes of homelessness, transgender identity, and the complexity of non-traditional family bonds. Professional reviewers called it captivating from the first page, and the intricate plotting genuinely earns that. The honest caveats are that the book carries a dense roster of contemporary issues that some reviewers found checklist-like rather than organic, and the LGBTQ+ content — including a same-sex romance and a transgender character — is central to the story, not incidental. Faith-conscious or conservative families should know that going in. For the right grades 8–12 reader, though, this has real momentum. Worth It.