Pete and Lily

Reach for this book when your child is feeling protective or anxious about changes in the family structure, particularly if you are beginning to date after a divorce or the loss of a spouse. It provides a gentle, relatable space for children to process the complicated 'territorial' feelings that arise when a parent finds a new partner. The story follows Pete and Lily, two friends who decide to form a secret alliance to manage their parents' blossoming romance. While the girls start with a mission of control, they eventually navigate the shift from resistance to acceptance. It is a warm, humorous look at middle school friendship and the realization that while family shapes may change, the love within them remains constant. This is an ideal choice for normalizing the 'us against the world' mentality kids often adopt during transitions.