An Invisible Sign of My Own

In Aimee Bender's debut novel, Mona Gray, a girl who became a "quitter" after her father's mysterious illness, navigates her complicated relationship with her talents. While mathematics remains her constant, she begins teaching it to second-graders, finding joy in the process. As she interacts with her students and develops feelings for the new science teacher, her carefully constructed façade starts to unravel amidst the challenges of life. Bender masterfully blends the surreal with relatable emotional depth in this compelling narrative.