Runaway

Reach for this book when your adolescent is grappling with feelings of abandonment or is beginning to notice the systemic cracks in the world around them. It is a powerful choice for children who need to see that self-reliance and emotional honesty are the first steps toward healing after trauma or family instability. Twelve-year-old Holly has spent years in the foster system and, after being let down by every adult she knows, decides to live life on her own terms by running away. Written in a raw and intimate journal format, the story follows her journey across the country as she navigates the realities of homelessness while processing the grief of her mother's addiction. Parents will appreciate the book's grit and its refusal to offer easy answers, making it a profound tool for building empathy and resilience in readers aged twelve and up.