Families who loved Right Where You Left Me by Calla Devlin often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling disconnected from you during a period of high stress or when they are struggling to process a looming family crisis. It is a sensitive exploration of how trauma can either pull a family apart or force them to finally see one another clearly. The story follows seventeen year old Charlotte, who must navigate the terror of her father being held hostage in Ukraine while simultaneously mending a fractured relationship with her Russian immigrant mother. Through the lenses of Charlotte's camera and her mother's traditional baking, the book highlights how different people process fear and grief. It is particularly appropriate for older teens who appreciate realistic fiction that doesn't shy away from complex family dynamics. Parents will appreciate the way it models emotional resilience and the difficult but necessary work of rebuilding trust between a parent and child during life's most challenging moments.