About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle schooler begins seeking validation from teachers or mentors while pushing away from your own guidance. It is a perfect choice for the daughter who feels she can never quite live up to her mother's perceived perfection or who feels misunderstood within the family dynamic. The story follows Leslie, a young girl who idolizes her sophisticated journalism advisor while resenting her mother's seemingly mundane life and high expectations. Through a realistic and relatable lens, Bauer explores the complex shift from childhood idolization to adolescent criticism. It addresses themes of integrity, the danger of putting mentors on pedestals, and the realization that parents are multi-dimensional people with their own struggles. Ideal for ages 10 to 14, this book provides a safe space to discuss the friction of growing up and the messy process of building an independent identity.
