About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager feels isolated by their family circumstances or struggles with the pressure of high expectations. It is a poignant story for children who feel 'different' or who are coping with the lingering pain of parental abandonment. Jess lives a rigid life on a farm with his demanding grandmother, feeling the void left by a mother who could not stay. When he forms an unlikely bond with a fellow outsider nicknamed the Burn-out, he begins to navigate the complexities of loyalty and self-discovery. This narrative provides a safe space to discuss the weight of family history and the transformative power of empathy. It is an ideal choice for middle schoolers and early teens who are learning that family is defined by more than just blood, and that being an outsider can lead to the most meaningful connections.
