Along for the Ride

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling with the weight of academic expectations or feeling like they missed out on a normal childhood due to family conflict. It is a perfect choice for a teen navigating the complexities of a new blended family, a recent divorce, or the transition from high school to college. The story follows Auden, a girl who spent her high school years acting like an adult to cope with her parents' fighting, as she spends a summer with her father and his new family. Through a midnight quest to do the childhood activities she missed, she explores themes of forgiveness, identity, and the courage to change. While it features some mature teenage situations, it offers a grounded, realistic look at how young people can reclaim their own joy and find common ground with parents who have disappointed them.