
Reach for this book when your teenager feels like they are being lectured rather than heard, or when they are struggling to reconcile their unique family identity with a desire to fit in. Kat Flynn is a fifteen-year-old girl navigating the shadow of her mother, a prominent home-birth midwife who often forgets to stop teaching and start parenting. The story explores the friction between Kat's desire for a traditional teenage experience and her 'weird' upbringing, all while she navigates a long-time crush and an unexpected friendship with a popular peer. This is a poignant and often hilarious look at the messiness of self-acceptance. It deals with body image, family dynamics, and the vulnerability of first love in a way that feels authentic to the modern high school experience. Parents will appreciate the book's ability to humanize the parent-child conflict while encouraging teens to find their own voice. It is most appropriate for ages 12 and up due to its mature, realistic treatment of adolescent relationships and identity.
Depicts typical young teen dating, including crushes and first kisses.
The book deals with birth, reproductive health, and body image in a very direct, secular, and clinical yet respectful manner. It also touches on the pressure of social status and family secrets. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, focusing on improved communication rather than a perfect fix.
A 13 or 14-year-old girl who feels like her parents are 'too much' and who hides parts of her personality to avoid being judged by peers. It's for the kid who feels like an outsider even when they have friends.
Parents should be aware that because the mother is a midwife, there are frank discussions about childbirth and anatomy. These are presented educationally but are central to the mother-daughter conflict. A parent might see their teen pulling away or rolling their eyes at every piece of advice offered. The trigger is the realization that 'teaching' is being perceived as 'criticizing.'
Younger teens will focus on the 'cringe' factor of the mother and the excitement of the romance. Older teens will better appreciate the nuances of the Libby subplot and the theme of constructing an identity separate from one's parents.
Unlike many YA novels that make parents invisible, this book centers the parent-child relationship as the primary catalyst for the protagonist's growth.
Kat Flynn is a sophomore navigating life with her mother, Abra, a locally famous home-birth midwife. Kat feels her identity is consumed by her mother's profession and 'crunchy' lifestyle. The plot follows Kat as she manages a developing romance with Manny Cruz and navigates a complicated, evolving relationship with Libby Giles, a popular girl whose life isn't as perfect as it seems. It is a story of internal lists, 'facts of life,' and personal discovery.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review