Dark Sons

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is feeling replaced by a new sibling or abandoned by a father following a divorce. It is a powerful resource for navigating the complex emotions of a blended family, specifically the resentment and isolation that can occur when a father starts a 'second' family. The story unfolds through alternating poems that link Sam, a modern boy in New York, with the biblical figure Ishmael. By connecting these two across time, the book validates the deep hurt of feeling second-best while offering a path toward healing. It is best suited for ages 12 and up due to its sophisticated verse and heavy emotional themes of betrayal and religious questioning. Parents will appreciate how Nikki Grimes uses faith as a realistic, sometimes messy anchor for processing grief.