EMANON: A Story About Finding Your Place

When everything changes, what’s left of you? After a sudden tragedy, a boy is pulled from his classroom and uprooted from the life he knew. He doesn’t know where he’s going—or who he is anymore. So he chooses a name that means no name at all. Emanon finds himself in the DeLaCruz house, a loud, imperfect home filled with twelve brothers and one steady sister who somehow holds everything together. No one asks him to explain what happened. No one rushes him to be okay. Instead, they make room. Told in a quiet, deeply human voice, EMANON: A Story About Finding Your Place explores grief, belonging, and the slow work of healing. Through small moments, patient relationships, and the safety of being allowed to stay, Emanon begins to discover that he doesn’t have to be fixed to be loved—and that finding your place doesn’t always mean knowing who you are yet. Written for readers ages 10–12, EMANON is a gentle, powerful story for anyone who has experienced loss, change, or the feeling of starting over. It’s also a meaningful read for parents, educators, and caregivers looking for stories that help children feel seen without overwhelming them. Some stories don’t raise their voice. They stay.