A Lesson in Harmony: An Illustrated Children’s Story About Symbols, History & Friendship

What happens when two best friends discover that the same symbol can mean very different things to different people?

Jamal and Tommy have been best friends for years. They play soccer, race bikes, and spend their weekends working on the backyard fort they built together. But when Jamal notices a Confederate battle flag displayed in Tommy’s home, he begins to see something familiar in a very different way.

Tommy has always been told the flag represents family history and Southern pride. Jamal has learned about its connection to slavery, racism, and exclusion. When Jamal shares how the symbol makes him feel, both boys—and Tommy’s family—are challenged to listen, ask questions, and look more closely at the history behind what they have always believed.

Written for readers ages 9–12, A Lesson in Harmony is a thoughtful illustrated chapter book about friendship, empathy, history, and the importance of being willing to learn when new information challenges what we thought we knew.

Rather than telling children what to think, the story creates an age-appropriate opportunity for families and educators to talk about difficult history, the meaning of symbols, intention versus effect, and how friendships can grow stronger through honesty and understanding.

The book also includes an Author’s Note, Historical Note, glossary, and sources for further reading, making it a meaningful choice for independent reading, family discussions, classrooms, homeschool settings, school counselors, libraries, and youth programs.

Recommended for ages 9–12.

upper elementary reading

A Lesson in Harmony: An Illustrated Children’s Story About Symbols, History & Friendship