42 Miles

Reach for this book when your child feels like they are leading two separate lives between two different households. Jo Ellen is twelve years old and split between her mother's bustling city life and her father's quiet organic farm, a 42-mile distance that feels like a vast emotional gulf. Through gentle free verse and expressive illustrations, the story explores the tension of code-switching between different family expectations and environments. It is an ideal choice for middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12) who are navigating the complexities of joint custody. Parents will appreciate how the book moves beyond the initial shock of divorce to the long-term work of identity formation. It offers a comforting mirror for children who feel they must be two different people to make their parents happy, ultimately showing them how to bridge those worlds into one cohesive self.