Before We Wake

Reach for this book when your teenager feels like they are leading a double life, balancing the crushing pressures of school with a rich, secret inner world they are afraid to share. Before We Wake explores the intensity of first love and the vulnerability of being truly known by another person through a surreal, magical lens. It centers on Alicia, a girl who finds an escape from her daily anxieties through lucid dreaming, only to realize that her dream world is merging with reality when a boy from school begins to share her subconscious experiences. It is a sophisticated, emotionally resonant graphic novel that validates the feeling of being an outsider while offering a hopeful path toward genuine connection. The story is ideal for middle and high schoolers who appreciate atmospheric storytelling and are navigating the delicate transition from childhood privacy to adult intimacy.