About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is navigating the friction of a blended family or struggling with the disappointment of a long awaited reunion that does not go as planned. It is especially helpful for children who feel responsible for keeping the peace between siblings or parents. The story follows Dawn Schafer as her younger brother visits from across the country. Instead of the perfect family bonding she imagined, the visit triggers a massive feud between her mother's new husband and her brother, eventually pulling the whole household into a cold war. It explores the heavy emotional weight of loyalty conflicts and the fear that a new family structure might crumble. It is a realistic, compassionate look at the growing pains of step-families for readers aged 8 to 12.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly and secularly with the complexities of divorce, bicoastal parenting, and blended family dynamics. The resolution is realistic: the families reconcile, but the underlying issues of Jeff's unhappiness and the difficulty of blending two distinct lifestyles remain present and valid.
