About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with the quiet loneliness that often follows a family divorce, particularly during transitions between households. Ten-year-old Jenny is spending a summer visiting her father, and while the physical setting is familiar, her emotional landscape has shifted. To cope with her feelings of displacement, she turns to her imagination, fixating on a grand old house on a hill and dreaming of a different life. This gentle, realistic story validates the sadness of family changes while celebrating the power of creativity as a sanctuary. It is a quiet, contemplative read for children ages 8 to 12 who need to know that it is okay to feel a little lost while finding their new normal.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with divorce and the resulting feelings of loneliness. The approach is secular and highly realistic. While there is no traumatic conflict, the emotional weight of a child feeling 'divided' is presented with honesty. The resolution is realistic rather than magical: Jenny doesn't get a perfect ending, but she gains a sense of internal agency.
