One main character in this book adopts an older child from another country (not an infant and having experienced traumas prior to the adoption). My husband and I did the same over 20 years ago, and the author really nailed it with this character! She clearly has experienced similar things as an adoptive mom.
I appreciated how this book was based on the true situation that happened to similar school districts. I had heard of that situation before I realized this book was based on it, and it made the story even more interesting.
Good development of complex characters. Good representations of multiple perspectives. Good representations of complex situations.