Mina is nine years old. She lives with her mother; her father has died. And Mina faces challenges. The very process of growing up presents difficulties, compounded by her grief for her father. She is also smart and unusual, which makes it hard for her to forge friendships at school and fall in line with the expectations of a traditional educational environment. After Mina has some run-ins with the school administration, Mina’s mother decides to homeschool her, and Mina begins writing in a journal. My Name is Mina is that journal; the print edition of the book even uses handwriting fonts to make readers feel like they are holding something personal and private. In her private book Mina relates memories, catalogs wonders, writes poems, records observations, and more. As she processes her past and present through her writing, Mina invokes three mythological figures repeatedly: Orpheus, Persephone, and Icarus. The myth of Orpheus underscores human mortality, while that of Persephone offers comfort through its promise of seasonal renewal. Icarus becomes an exemplar of winged spirit rather than a cautionary tale. Almond uses myth as a source of resonant symbols which help Mina to understand and contextualize her experiences and herself. – Rebecca Resinski