Charlie Pippin

Reach for this book if you are parenting a child who feels a growing emotional distance from a parent or is struggling to understand why an adult in their life is so rigid and strict. It is an essential choice for families navigating the bridge between a child's natural independence and a parent's protective, sometimes painful, past. Through the eyes of eleven-year-old Charlie, the story explores how history and trauma, specifically from the Vietnam War, can ripple through a family. While it tackles serious themes of war and generational conflict, it remains a hopeful middle-grade novel that emphasizes empathy and the power of asking questions. It is a beautiful tool for normalizing the complex feelings of wanting to love a parent while also wanting to challenge their rules.