All the Right Stuff

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with the aftermath of a loss or feeling disillusioned by the social and economic inequalities they see in their community. The story follows Paul Volponi, a teen working at a Harlem soup kitchen while processing his father's death. Through his conversations with a philosophical shop owner, Paul explores complex questions about social justice, personal responsibility, and how to build a meaningful life in a world that often feels rigged against you. It is a deeply thoughtful, secular exploration of ethics that helps teens bridge the gap between childhood idealism and adult reality. Parents will appreciate the way it encourages critical thinking and resilience without offering easy, sugar-coated answers.