WINNER OF THE: 2021 OLA Silver Birch Award
NOMINATED FOR THE: 2022 Diamond Willow Award
NOMINATED FOR THE: 2022 ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOOK AWARDS
NOMINATED FOR THE: 2022 Chocolate Lily Award
People say, “Just be yourself.” But when you’re new in school, all you want is to fit in, to be like everyone else. When eleven-year-old Warren and his family move to a new city, his twin brother, who has Down syndrome, attracts too much attention for Warren’s liking. Bennie lives his life happily. He’s different and doesn’t care about it. But while he may be oblivious to those who are curious or uneasy with him, Warren notices every smirk, comment, and sideways glance.
Warren is weary of flip-flopping between trying to be just like everyone else and being the protective brother of a boy with special needs. Sometimes he thinks his life would be easier if he had no brother. But what he really needs is to stop worrying about what other people think.
Reviews:
The Jig Saw Puzzle King portrays the real-life themes of diversity and perspectives with humour, excitement, sensitivity and warmth. With the inclusion of zombie tag, hockey, an injured classmate, robots, black eyes, and stink bombs, this book will definitely appeal to the middle years audience. Highly Recommended. Reviewer: Janice Foster is a retired teacher and teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Jigsaw Puzzle King by Gina McMurchy-Barber is a beautiful little book with a compelling message of hope for young adult readers. The author…who lives in Surrey, skilfully manages to tell a story about the serious theme of Down syndrome with both humour and tenderness…. Her book is one that every young teenager should read, digest, and understand how important it is to be brave and kind and, above all, accept those of us who are a little different from the rest. The BC Review Full review