SuitabookProud of Me
Sarah Hagger-Holt
- Reading
- Read alongside the child rather than pre-teaching conclusions. Pause around the online search and donor questions, invite reactions to the family and school scenes, and let the child decide what needs further discussion.
- Themes
- Family formation and belonging: Becky and Josh live with two mums and share a donor father; Josh wants to understand where he fits and who he resembles. The family is presented as central to the story, while the children have distinct questions about their origins and place within it.
- LGBTQIA+ identity and history: Archie establishes a school LGBTQIA+ group, Becky develops feelings for a new girl, and the book includes discussion of queer history and Section 28. LGBTQIA+ lives and history are woven into school, family and personal experiences rather than appearing only as background information.
- Online searching and safety: Josh researches his donor father online after feeling that his mums have not offered enough information, and this leads to an adventure he cannot foresee. The plot connects a personal search for identity with online activity and uncertainty about what may follow.
- Worth knowing
- Josh researches his donor father online, and the story includes an adventure he does not expect. A child may want support discussing privacy, reliable information and the feelings behind searching.