American Road Trip

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with a family crisis or trying to support a loved one through a mental health challenge. This moving contemporary novel follows Teodoro, a high schooler whose older brother returns from war with severe PTSD. As the family dynamic shifts under the weight of trauma, Teodoro and his sister take their brother on a cross country road trip to reconnect and find a path toward healing. It is a powerful exploration of sibling bonds, Latinx identity, and the resilience required to face a difficult reality. This story is appropriate for older teens, offering a realistic but ultimately hopeful look at how families can survive the hardest chapters of life together. Parents will appreciate the book's honest treatment of mental health and its focus on the importance of empathy and perseverance.