About This Book
Reach for this book when a teenager is struggling with complex feelings toward a parent, particularly in cases of estrangement, past abandonment, or recovery from addiction. It is a deeply empathetic resource for children who feel caught between the desire to love a parent and the need to protect themselves from further hurt. Nearly fourteen, Sara Jo must navigate a summer spent with her mother, a reformed alcoholic who left her years ago. The story explores the heavy weight of resentment and the slow, often messy process of rebuilding trust. It is most appropriate for middle schoolers and young teens who are ready for a realistic, non-sugarcoated look at family dynamics and emotional healing. Parents will appreciate the book's honest portrayal of the fact that forgiveness does not happen overnight and that a parent's mistakes are not the child's fault.
