What is a family? This work examines a wide range of possibilities, emphasizing that regardless of configuration, what matters most “is the love and support that members feel—or expect to feel.” Happy families are truly not all alike: “every family is unique, particularly in the United States,” due to “varying family compositions and the ethnic mixture” of the population. Currie- McGhee uses this broad diversity to explain that “statistical averages” are not the same as being “typical.” She provides relevant quotations from and brief portraits of members of families that diverge from the racially homogeneous, heterosexual, nuclear model. The book covers immigrant, multiracial, adoptive, LGBTQ+, and single-parent and multigenerational families. The author delves into the variability that exists within each of these broader categories, as well as common concerns. For example, immigrant families often experience the stresses of being separated from beloved relatives, navigating cultural differences, feeling pressure to succeed, worrying about the deportation of undocumented members, and experiencing difficulties with intergenerational communication gaps. Societal prejudice and discrimination are challenges for many of the groups the author describes; she identifies practical sources of support and notes strengths that can result from the family’s composition. The writing is clear, and the tone is accepting. Unfortunately, landmark cases, such as those legalizing interracial and same-sex marriages, go unmentioned, weakening readers’ understanding of the broader context. Attractive stock photos add to the book’s appeal.

Presents and validates a rich tapestry of diverse family patterns. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-17)