Hush

Reach for this book if your teenager is struggling with a loss of identity due to a move, a change in family status, or a situation where they feel forced to hide their true self. Jacqueline Woodson explores the heavy emotional toll of Witness Protection on fifteen-year-old Toswiah Green, who must abandon her name, her Black middle-class community, and her history to become Evie Thomas. This is a quiet, poetic, and deeply realistic look at grief and resilience. It is best suited for middle and high schoolers who are ready to engage with complex themes of justice, police ethics, and the way external labels define us. Parents will appreciate the nuanced portrayal of a family fracturing and healing under extreme pressure.