Kaytie Norman

Not every middle grade book is as suited for parents as it is for their children—but this novel is a stunning story that can truly be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Written by Alice Hoffman, the bestselling author known for titles such as Practical Magic and The World That We Knew, When We Flew Away is a meticulously researched exploration of Anne Frank's life before she and her family were forced into hiding.

In October 2024, investigative journalist Maria Laurino published a book she had been working on for seven years: The Price of Children. Her groundbreaking work told the shocking-but-true story of an adoption scandal that was directed by the highest levels of the Vatican from the 1950s to the 1970s. Laurino's astonishing research landed her on 60 Minutes, where she discussed her discoveries in depth.

In 2017, Maria Laurino had already written multiple books exploring her Italian heritage when her cousin called her and, off-handedly, mentioned he had found a Facebook group of fellow adoptees who had all come to America via the same Catholic Church program. There, he had heard concerning stories—rumors of falsified documents, exploited unwed mothers, and forced adoptions. Intrigued, Laurino pressed her cousin to find out more, and he put her in contact with the leader of the group.