Stories That Shape Our Work: What the Georgia CASA Team Is Reading

From Library Week to Independent Book Store Day, April is filled with literary-themed days of note. Reading often serves as a way to deepen knowledge, expand empathy, and broaden awareness. In the child welfare space, many books touch on our work directly and indirectly. These reads can be found in every shelf of the reading world; memoirs that show a child’s journey to safety, non-fiction works that cultivate leadership or technical skills, and stories of fiction that illustrate hope are all in the hands of those in the CASA network. To help you get started on your next read, the Georgia CASA team shares the books that have recently resonated with them.

Jen’s Pick: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 

Demon Copperhead provides a first-hand account of how one child navigates risks, family connections, hope, loss, and coming of age. It’s an uncomfortable story, but its characters, including its setting in southern Appalachia, stay with you far beyond the pages and drive reflection on how systems and policies related to economic mobility, rural infrastructure, poverty, substance use, and foster care impacts communities and families for generations to come and the power of individual connection. 

Lori’s Pick: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate 

Based on true events, the story told in Before We Were Yours offers a glimpse into the lives of a sibling group in a Tennessee orphanage in the 1940s. Written from both historical and current day perspectives, the book offers a bit of mystery and history and will resonate with a child welfare audience. 

Dawn’s Pick: Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport 

What resonated with me is the emphasis on building a lifestyle and culture rooted in balance and intentionality, rather than one driven by staying in constant pursuit of something new or constantly filling every open space on the calendar, eventually leading to overwhelm and burnout. Instead, Slow Productivity challenges us to create room to think, refine, and streamline what we’re already doing, so the work becomes stronger, more aligned, and more sustainable. As leaders, protecting our capacity creates the clarity we need to communicate more effectively, engage more intentionally with our teams, and better develop and support our people—allowing us to lead with greater purpose and impact. 

LaDonna’s Picks:  

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi  

Never Eat Alone reveals that true success is built through genuine, generous relationships, not just talent or effort. In a powerful story, a coal miner secures a private school opportunity for his son through the connections he nurtured over time, reminding us that investing in people, long before you need anything, creates pathways that credentials and finances sometimes cannot, often changing lives for generations. 

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John C. Maxwell  

This book is a guide to transforming the way we relate to others. It shows that while anyone can talk, few people truly connect in a way that inspires, motivates, and resonates. Maxwell reveals practical strategies to step into someone else’s world, engage their heart, and make every interaction meaningful. This book isn’t just about communication; it’s about creating authentic relationships that leave a lasting impact. 

Miriam’s Picks:  

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng  

Set in a near-future society where unpatriotic behavior is criminalized, this novel follows a young boy, Bird, whose mother has disappeared. As Bird searches for her, he uncovers a resistance network working to preserve stories and protect children taken from their families. This story explores family separation, cultural identity, systemic bias, and the quiet resilience of children navigating loss and uncertainty. It underscores the importance of advocacy, the preservation of a child’s story, and the role caring adults play in helping children feel seen, safe, and connected to their roots – core principles in CASA work. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune 

Book one in a two-book series. This heart-warming fantasy follows Linus, a by-the-book caseworker sent to evaluate a group home for magical children, who are deemed “dangerous.” There, he meets six extraordinary children and their compassionate caretaker, Arthur, and begins to question the systems in which he has always trusted. At its core, this novel is about belonging, acceptance, and the transformative power of unconditional care. It challenges bias, encourages seeing beyond labels, and highlights the importance of advocacy for children who are misunderstood and marginalized. For CASA volunteers, it reinforces the impact of showing up with empathy, curiosity, and a willingness to truly know each child and advocate for their needs. 

Ali’s Pick: Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach: The Power of Dialogue in Educating Adults by Jane Vella 

Jane Vella is celebrated for developing the theory of dialogue education in which learning happens best through dialogue.  In this revised version of her book, she applies the theory of quantum physics to her 12 principles of effective adult learning all while using personal experiences and stories of her own 40 years of work in adult education.  No advanced physics degree or fan of Big Bang Theory needed to relate Jane’s stories to our CASA pre-service training.  All trainers can reflect and glean from Jane theories to create a “holistic, integrated, spiritual, energetic” learning experience for all involved.   

Rachelle’s Pick: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls 

In this memoir, Walls reflects on her tumultuous upbringing. Substance misuse, neglect, mental health issues, and instability are the backdrop of her life and that of her three siblings. Despite experiencing a rough childhood, this story also emphasizes the strength of family ties, sibling support, and parental love. It is beautifully written and a great reminder of why connections to family remain paramount.  

Whether you’re picking up a novel that challenges your perspective, a memoir that deepens your empathy, or a non-fiction book that sharpens your skills, each of these recommendations reflects a shared belief: stories matter.

This week, consider visiting your local library or stopping by an independent bookstore to explore something new. The stories we choose to engage with have the power to shape how we listen, how we connect, and how we advocate.

And if there’s a book that has shaped your perspective, we’d love to hear it!