About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child is struggling to navigate a complex friendship with a peer who experiences significant mental or behavioral challenges. It is a vital resource for the child who feels a heavy responsibility to 'fix' or save a friend, only to realize that some struggles require professional help beyond what a child can provide. Set in the 1950s, the story follows Solly as he befriends Daniel, a boy who is deeply troubled and eventually hospitalized for mental illness. Through Solly's eyes, readers explore the nuances of empathy, the pain of witnessing a friend's decline, and the difficult but necessary boundary-setting that comes with growing up. It is a poignant, realistic look at mental health that avoids easy answers, making it best suited for mature middle-grade readers who are ready for a serious discussion about the limits of personal influence.
