About This Book
Reach for this book when your child has made a high-stakes mistake out of panic or impulsivity and is now drowning in the resulting shame. It is a vital tool for the middle schooler who feels like one bad choice defines their entire character. The story follows Kat on a disastrous first day of seventh grade. Distraught over her dog being injured in a car accident, she impulsively steals a bicycle to get to the vet, only to find herself trapped in a web of legal and social consequences. Swallow expertly balances the heavy themes of accountability and guilt with the realistic awkwardness of starting a new school year. Parents will appreciate how the book models the difficult process of making amends, demonstrating that while we cannot undo our actions, we can take ownership of them. It is a compassionate look at the intersection of grief, impulsivity, and the messy road to redemption for ages 10 to 13.
