Brady Mason’s Perfect Fit by Nicole Melleby (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 336 pages, grades 4-7). Being a foster kid all her life has given Brady a tough exterior, but inside she still feels uncertain, especially about the crush she has on her best friend. When another girl at her New Jersey group home notices Brady’s resemblance to fashion superstar Elena Lavigne, she creates a Tik Tok that goes viral. In no time at all, Brady has been discovered as Elena’s long-lost daughter and whisked away to a ritzy townhouse in Manhattan. Brady finds herself navigating a world of high fashion, a snobby preppy school, media attention, and, of course, getting to know the mother who gave her up for adoption to pursue a high-powered career. Brady tries to fit in, but she can only be herself, and she and her mom navigate a bumpy road to greater acceptance of each other. By the end of the story, the two have come to accept each other and are on their way to being a unique but loving family.

Fans of The Devil Wears Prada will enjoy this slightly unrealistic but always fun Cinderella tale. Elena gives Miranda Priestly vibes at first, but eventually reveals herself to be a kinder, gentler version who still feels uncertain about her own unconventional path to success. Brady is a spunky protagonist who must deal with an enormous change just as she is entering adolescence and coming to terms with the fact that she’s gay. She and Elena provide some good role models for learning how to be part of an unconventional family.

Midsummer Sisters by Niki Smith (Graphix, 272 pages, grades 4-8). Stepsisters Kenzie and Quinn can’t remember a time that they weren’t part of the same family after their parents married when they were very young. Now their parents’ marriage seems to be falling apart, which is even more stressful due to the threat of losing each other as sisters. Their grandmother steps in to take them for the summer to her home in the Outer Banks, where she works as a veterinarian at the Wild Horse Foundation. While the girls still worry about their family falling apart, they’re able to enjoy the beach, the kayaks, the horses, and the peace of Gramma’s small house. Kenzie gets excited about adding the fossilized shark teeth she finds at the beach to her extensive rock collection, while Quinn spends her spare time on her phone with the girl she has a crush on. When the end of the summer arrives, the girls find out the fate of their family, but they know that no matter what, they will always be sisters.

This emotionally wrenching graphic novel will speak to readers going through difficult times. Each girl has a distinctive look and personality–Kenzie is quieter, more scientifically minded, with long brown hair and a port wine stain on her forehead, while Quinn is redheaded, prone to sunburn, and more easily moved by her emotions. This would make a great beach read, with its compelling story line and striking depictions of the Outer Banks.