About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their teenager begins asking difficult questions about radicalization, the ethics of protest, or how family loyalty can sometimes conflict with personal morality. This gritty, spare novel follows fifteen-year-old Valkyrie, a girl raised in an isolated Montana bunker by extremist parents who have trained her for a domestic terrorist mission. As she emerges into the world to carry out her task, the story explores heavy themes of psychological grooming, the loss of innocence, and the complex trauma of children born into fringe movements. It is an intense, sophisticated read for older teens (14+) who are ready to grapple with moral ambiguity and the cycle of violence. Parents should choose this to spark deep discussions about media literacy, critical thinking, and the ways in which trauma can be passed down through generations.
