
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with the aftermath of a major loss, feeling physically or emotionally isolated, or navigating the complexities of a new disability. It is a poignant story about Mike, a high school student who lost his legs and his family in a tragic accident. As he returns to school, he encounters a mystery involving a girl named Sarah who may not be who she seems. This narrative explores heavy themes of survivor guilt, grief, and the slow process of rejoining the world of the living. It is a secular, realistic story with a supernatural twist that offers a path toward healing and hope for older readers who feel the weight of being different or alone. It serves as an excellent tool for normalizing the intense anger and sadness that often accompany life-altering physical trauma.
Deals with the death of an entire immediate family and life-altering physical injury.
Ghostly encounters and a mystery involving a past crime.
The book deals directly and intensely with death, survivor guilt. The approach is secular and gritty. The resolution is hopeful but grounded in the reality that Mike's life will never be the same.
A teenager who feels like an outsider due to trauma or feeling different and needs a story that acknowledges their anger rather than just offering easy platitudes.
Parents should be aware of the raw descriptions of Mike's depression and his initial hopelessness. No specific scenes need censoring, but the emotional weight requires a ready listener. A parent might choose this after hearing their child say 'everything is pointless' or witnessing their child withdraw from friends after a major life change or injury.
Younger teens (12 to 13) will focus on the ghost story and mystery elements. Older teens (15 to 17) will resonate more with the psychological realism of Mike's emotional struggles and his adjustment to his new life.
Unlike some books that focus on inspirational narratives, this one uses a supernatural mystery as a vehicle for a very real psychological exploration of trauma.
Mike is the lone survivor of a car crash that killed his parents and sister and left him a double amputee. Returning to high school in a wheelchair, he is bitter and isolated until he begins seeing Sarah, a young girl who seems to be a student from the past. As Mike investigates her identity, he uncovers a cold case that forces him to engage with his community and confront his own survival.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review