About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their child is beginning to notice the 'unspoken' burdens of adulthood, such as a family member's mental illness, the weight of grief, or the social stigma surrounding certain health crises. This lyrical story follows June Bug Jordan in 1983 as she navigates a home life defined by her father's recent death from AIDS and her mother's spiraling OCD and agoraphobia. Through a secret, imaginative friendship with a neighbor, June Bug finds the strength to seek help. It is a deeply moving choice for mature middle-grade readers (ages 10-14) who need to see that they are not responsible for 'fixing' their parents and that seeking external support is an act of bravery, not betrayal. It validates the complex mix of love, shame, and loyalty children feel in fragile domestic situations.
