Jessica

Reach for this book when your pre-teen or young teenager is struggling with the social embarrassment of a parent's unconventional choices or a sudden shift in family dynamics. It is a relatable and humorous look at thirteen-year-old Jessica, who is horrified when her mother decides to embrace a bohemian lifestyle, starts a pottery business, and moves them into a less than glamorous cottage. Beyond the comedy of parental cringing, the story explores the deeper anxieties of maintaining friendships and finding a personal identity when home life feels like it is falling apart. It is perfect for children navigating the transition from a traditional nuclear family to a single-parent household. Rosie Rushton captures the specific brand of middle-school mortification while providing a reassuring message that families can be messy and still be full of love. This book is a great tool for normalizing the resentment kids sometimes feel toward their parents during times of major change.