About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager begins withdrawing into rigid routines or avoiding social spaces due to anxiety. Kira Hale is a fifteen-year-old who navigates her world by mapping out safe routes to avoid crowds, a coping mechanism that many parents of anxious teens will recognize. When a mysterious compass leads her to explore her community's forgotten canals and an endangered footbridge, she finds her voice through a creative project called a Story Atlas. This contemporary novel is a gentle, realistic exploration of social anxiety and the courage it takes to step outside one's comfort zone. It is highly appropriate for ages 12 and up, offering a roadmap for how creativity and small, shared goals can help a young person move from isolation to community belonging.
