For the child grappling with life's unexpected turns, this story explores how a 'perfect' world can shift, and how to navigate changing family and friendships.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is beginning to see the cracks in their own family's foundation or is worried about a friend's troubled home life. "An End to Perfect" follows twelve-year-old Arden, whose stable world is shaken when her beloved older brother announces he's leaving home after a conflict with their father. At the same time, she discovers that her best friend's seemingly idyllic family is hiding a serious problem. The story gently explores themes of resilience, family love, and the painful but necessary realization that no person or family is perfect. For kids aged 10-14, this book provides a thoughtful and comforting narrative that normalizes the anxieties of growing up and seeing parents as flawed, complex individuals. It's a great tool for starting conversations about difficult family dynamics in a safe, relatable context.
A secondary character's father struggles with alcoholism. It is discussed but not shown graphically.
Sensitive Topics
The book directly addresses family conflict and a parent's alcoholism. The approach is from a child's perspective, focusing on the confusion, fear, and sadness these situations cause, rather than clinical detail. The language is straightforward and not sensationalized. The resolution is realistic and hopeful: the problems do not vanish, but Arden develops a more mature understanding of her family, learns how to be a supportive friend, and finds a new, more resilient sense of self. The perspective is secular.
Ideal Reader
This book is for the sensitive 10 to 13-year-old who is just beginning to realize that the adults in their life are fallible. It's perfect for a child who feels unsettled by parental arguments, is worried about a friend's situation they don't fully understand, or is dealing with the bittersweet pain of a sibling growing up and pulling away.
Parent Prep
A parent should be ready to discuss alcoholism in an age-appropriate way, as it is a central issue for Arden's best friend. Previewing chapters where Arden visits Dorrie's house and observes the tension and her father's behavior might be helpful. The book can be read cold, as it unfolds the situation through Arden's limited understanding, which can be a good starting point for conversation. A parent has noticed their child seems newly anxious or sad after witnessing a family argument. Or perhaps the child came home from a friend's house seeming withdrawn and said something vague like, "Dorrie's dad was being weird." The trigger is the child's first encounter with serious, real-world family dysfunction, either their own or a friend's.
Age Experience
A younger reader (10-11) will likely focus on the plot points: the sadness of a brother leaving and the drama of a friendship in crisis. They will connect with the external events. An older reader (12-14) will better appreciate the internal journey, grasping the subtler themes of identity, the pressure to appear perfect, and the complex process of disillusionment with one's parents. They will identify more with Arden's emotional maturation.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many contemporary issue-driven novels, this book (from 1986) has a quiet, timeless quality. Its strength is in its subtle, parallel exploration of two different kinds of family fractures. It focuses less on a single dramatic event and more on the protagonist's internal processing of a slow, painful awakening to the complexities of life. It excels at showing, not telling, a young person's emotional growth.
Read plot summary
Twelve-year-old Arden's world feels perfect until two pillars of her life crumble simultaneously. Her older brother, Dorry, a talented musician, has a major falling out with their rigid father and decides to leave home. At the same time, Arden discovers that her best friend Dorrie's family, whom she has always envied, is struggling with Dorrie's father's alcoholism. Arden must navigate her own grief and confusion while trying to support her friend, ultimately learning to accept and find strength in an imperfect, more realistic world.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Arden starts the book believing her family is perfect. How does her idea of a 'perfect' family change by the end? What do you think she learns is more important than being perfect?
2
When Arden learns about Dorrie's father's problem, she feels helpless and doesn't know what to do. What are some of the ways she tries to be a good friend to Dorrie? What would you do in that situation?
3
Dorry and his father have very different ideas about what Dorry's future should be. Why do you think it was so hard for them to understand each other? Do you think Dorry made the right choice by leaving?
4
The title of the book is 'An End to Perfect.' What does Arden gain when her 'perfect' world ends?
