
Reach for this book when your child is questioning what makes a family 'real' or is navigating a complicated relationship with parents who may be well-meaning but unreliable. Cat has lived with her eccentric, motorcycle-riding grandmother, the Pag, since she was small. When her glamorous actor parents suddenly decide they want her back, Cat must find the courage to speak up for the life she actually wants. It is a powerful story about agency, the bond between generations, and the realization that children have a right to be heard in decisions affecting their future. It is particularly suited for middle-grade readers (ages 9-12) who appreciate stories where the 'rules' of adulthood are challenged by sharp, observant young protagonists.
Themes of parental neglect and the feeling of being unwanted by birth parents.
The book deals with parental neglect and abandonment. The approach is realistic and secular. The parents are not 'evil' in a fairytale sense, but rather self-absorbed and emotionally immature. The resolution is hopeful and validating for the child's autonomy.
A 10-year-old who feels like a 'square peg in a round hole' or a child in a kinship care situation who needs to see their family structure validated as legitimate and chosen.
Parents should be aware that the Pag is a non-traditional grandmother (she smokes and rides a motorcycle), and the parents are portrayed quite unsympathetically. It is a great book to read alongside a child to discuss what actually makes a 'good' parent. A parent might see their child retreating or becoming unusually anxious when 'performance' or 'status' is prioritized over the child's comfort, or perhaps when a child expresses that they feel more 'at home' with a grandparent than a parent.
Younger readers will focus on the Pag's cool personality and the unfairness of the parents' demands. Older readers (11-12) will pick up on the nuances of the parents' narcissism and the legal implications of Cat's fight.
Unlike many 'orphan' stories, the parents are alive and wealthy, which makes the choice to stay with a grandmother a radical act of choosing emotional stability over material or social status.
Cat (Catherine) lives with her grandmother, known as 'the Pag.' Her parents, successful actors, have been absent for most of her life but suddenly decide to assert their custody rights. The story follows Cat's resistance to their superficial lifestyle and her eventual legal and emotional battle to remain in the home where she feels safe and loved.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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