About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is beginning to recognize the complexities of their upbringing or feeling the weight of a 'difficult' parent. It is a powerful resource for older teens who are navigating the transition to adulthood while carrying the emotional burden of family secrets and intergenerational trauma. Set in the 1980s on a small Texas island, the story follows siblings Elena and Joaquin as they navigate life with their controlling, alcoholic mother, whose own past as a refugee from the Cuban Revolution has left her deeply scarred. Parents might choose this book to help a teenager process feelings of guilt, the desire for independence, and the realization that their parents are flawed, three-dimensional humans. It is appropriate for mature high schoolers due to its heavy themes of substance abuse and emotional manipulation, providing a safe space to discuss the limits of family loyalty.
