Across a Broken Shore

Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling boxed in by expectations or is struggling to reconcile their personal ambitions with their family's traditional values. Set against the backdrop of the 1930s Great Depression and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, the story follows Willa MacCarthy as she defies her Irish Catholic family's wish for her to become a nun. Willa's secret pursuit of a career in medicine highlights the grit required to forge an independent path. This is a compelling choice for parents who want to foster resilience and self-confidence in a child facing their own crossroads. While it addresses historical gender roles and financial hardship, its core message about the bravery required to be oneself is timeless and deeply empowering. It offers a realistic yet hopeful look at how a young person can navigate the friction between duty and desire.