The Name She Gave Me - Paperback

by Betty Culley (Author)

A heartbreakingly beautiful novel in verse about adoption, family, friendship, and love in all its many forms, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson, from the acclaimed author of Three Things I Know Are True.

Rynn was born with a hole in her heart--literally. Although it was fixed long ago, she still feels an emptiness there when she wonders about her birth family.

As her relationship with her adoptive mother fractures, Rynn finally decides she needs to know more about the rest of her family. Her search starts with a name, the only thing she has from her birth mother, and she quickly learns that she has a younger sister living in foster care in a nearby town. But if Rynn reconnects with her biological sister, it may drive her adoptive family apart for good.

This powerful coming of age story uncovers both beautiful and heartbreaking truths and explores how challenging, yet healing, family can be.

One birth name connects two sisters separated by secrets. But finding each other is only the beginning.

• A Search for Identity: Armed with only the name her birth mother gave her, sixteen-year-old Rynn seeks the truth of her origins, leading her to a sister she never knew existed.
• YA Emotional Fiction: A lyrical and heartfelt novel in verse that explores the deep desire for connection, belonging, and the true meaning of home.
• Complex Family Dynamics: As Rynn's relationship with her adoptive mother strains, she must decide if finding her biological family is worth losing the only one she's ever known.
• Found Family: Faced with an impossible choice, Rynn learns that family isn't just about blood, but about the people who show up, listen, and offer a place to belong.