About This Book
Reach for this book when your son begins to pull away or struggle with the confusing physical and emotional transition into puberty. Elio is an eighth-grader navigating a 'technicolor' explosion of hormones, a first girlfriend, and the rigid expectations of traditional masculinity from his father. This verse novel captures the vulnerability of boys that is often hidden behind anger or silence. It is a powerful tool for parents who want to normalize the awkwardness of growing up while teaching their sons about emotional intelligence, healthy boundaries, and the importance of respect in relationships. It offers a compassionate, humorous, and deeply necessary look at what it means to 'man up' in the modern world.
