
A parent might reach for this book when their child is navigating the social stigma and internal shame of having an incarcerated family member. While twelve-year-old Glennis deals with the literal reality of her father being in a detention center for white-collar crime, the story explores the complex web of lies and secrets families often weave to protect themselves from judgment. It is a sensitive look at how a child's world shifts when a 'hero' parent falls from grace. Appropriate for ages 9 to 13, this realistic novel moves beyond the crime itself to focus on the emotional fallout. It helps children understand that while they cannot control a parent's actions, they can choose how to define their own integrity. It is an excellent choice for fostering empathy and opening a dialogue about honesty, forgiveness, and the fact that people are more than their worst mistakes.
Themes of isolation, familial betrayal, and social stigma due to a parent's crime.
The book deals directly with parental incarceration and white-collar crime. The approach is secular and highly realistic. It doesn't sugarcoat the father's guilt or the family's fall from socioeconomic grace. The resolution is hopeful but grounded: the father is still in prison, but the family's emotional healing has begun through honest communication.
A middle-schooler who feels they are 'keeping a secret' for their family or a child who has recently experienced a major shift in how they view their parents. It is perfect for a reader who appreciates character-driven stories over high-action plots.
Parents should be prepared for scenes involving prison visits, which are described with clinical but child-appropriate detail. The book can be read cold, but discussing the concept of 'integrity' beforehand is helpful. A parent might see their child withdrawing from friends or expressing intense anger toward a formerly beloved relative. They might hear their child say, 'I don't want anyone to know what happened.'
A 9-year-old may focus on the 'unfairness' of the move and the father being away. A 13-year-old will better grasp the nuance of the father's moral failings and the mother's coping mechanisms.
Unlike many books about incarcerated parents that focus on systemic poverty, this book looks at white-collar crime and the specific 'shame of the fall' from a comfortable middle-class life.
Twelve-year-old Glennis is struggling to adjust after her father, a successful man she admired, is sent to a federal detention center for financial crimes. While her mother tries to maintain a facade of normalcy and her siblings react with varying levels of withdrawal and anger, Glennis is forced to confront the truth. She moves to the country to live with an aunt, where she begins to see her father as a flawed human being rather than a pedestal-dwelling idol. The story follows her journey through visits to the prison and her eventual realization that honesty is the only way to break free from the 'webs' her family has spun.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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