Beyond Me

Told in verse, this novel follows eleven-year-old Maya in Japan after the March 2011 earthquake and the tsunami that followed. Her family escaped with its home, its lives, and each other intact, but Maya is gripped by terror. Every aftershock revives her fear that her good fortune could disappear in an instant.

As news of the losses grows grimmer, with tens of thousands dead, the disaster feels too vast to repair. Maya wonders whether her country can ever recover and whether anything she does could matter, and a deep sense of helplessness settles over her.

Before she can reach out to others, Maya must find a reserve of strength within herself. The story shows how small acts of kindness can add up and help people and communities heal. Readers who liked A Place to Belong may feel a similar spirit here.