When JFK was My Father

Georgia Hughes is a young girl living a transient life, currently deposited at a Connecticut boarding school while her father works in Brazil and her mother resides in D.C. Feeling profoundly abandoned, Georgia retreats into a vivid internal life. She 'communicates' with Miss Beard, the ghost of the school's founder, and constructs an elaborate daydream where JFK is her father, providing the emotional warmth her real father lacks. The narrative follows her navigation of school social dynamics and her internal journey toward self-reliance. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals with emotional neglect and the pain of a fractured family. The approach is deeply internal and psychological. There are no religious overtones; the 'ghost' element functions more as a manifestation of Georgia's need for guidance. The resolution is realistic rather than magical. Georgia doesn't get the perfect family, but she finds a sense of place and personal identity. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with a heavy sense of isolation and melancholy. It builds slowly, mimicking Georgia's gradual adjustment to her surroundings. The ending is hopeful but grounded, as Georgia begins to let go of her fantasies in favor of real-world connections. IDEAL READER: A thoughtful, introverted 11 or 12-year-old who might be feeling 'left behind' by parents or peer groups. It appeals to children who enjoy historical settings and stories where the primary conflict is internal. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might choose this after hearing their child say 'You're never around' or witnessing the child retreating into solitary play and elaborate daydreams to avoid social rejection. PARENT PREP: No specific content warnings are necessary, though parents should be prepared to discuss why a child might invent a 'better' version of their parents. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger readers will focus on the ghost story and school drama aspects. Older readers will recognize the poignant irony of Georgia's JFK fantasy and the deeper themes of abandonment and maturing beyond the need for childhood 'security blankets.' DIFFERENTIATOR: The use of a historical figure like JFK as an object of projection for a child's father-hunger is a unique and effective narrative device that elevates this from a standard boarding school story.