Her Shining Eyes by Jeanette Morris (Middle-Grade Fiction)

Irina’s young, teenage life changes instantly when her sick mother is sentenced to jail time and she is dropped off at a boarding school. Although she faces many challenges, Irina holds onto her dream of becoming a professional violinist until a bully steals her violin and leaves her hopeless.

Her Shining Eyes is a suspenseful, captivating story. Through the tragic experiences of her characters, the author, Jeanette Morris, portrays the time of suffering for the people after the Soviet Union collapsed. With vivid details, Jeanette weaves the Russian culture into her heart-tugging story. I loved how this middle grade novel inspires to overcome adversity with kindness, love, and forgiveness. This would be a great addition to school reading lists. Amazon / Her Shining Eyes