About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with a heavy 'secret' burden or persistent guilt following a family loss or mistake. It speaks directly to the feeling of being 'stuck' in a moment of past failure while the rest of the world continues to move forward. The story follows fifteen-year-old Francesca as she navigates a summer defined by the memory of her brother's accidental drowning four years prior. Through a new babysitting job with a boy who reminds her of her brother, she begins the messy process of self-forgiveness. Parents will appreciate the raw, realistic depiction of grief and the way it handles complex family dynamics, including a strained marriage and the anxieties of first love. It is a poignant choice for helping teens understand that healing is not about forgetting, but about learning to carry their history without letting it crush them.
