Bird With the Heart of a Mountain

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with a sense of 'otherness' or feels caught between different worlds and family expectations. This evocative historical novel follows sixteen-year-old Drina as she navigates her dual identity as part-Gypsy and part-Spanish during the tumultuous Spanish Civil War. Through the forbidden art of flamenco, she begins to dismantle the secrets her mother has kept and discovers a sense of self that transcends her labels. This is a sophisticated choice for mature readers who appreciate lyrical prose and deep emotional exploration. It addresses the universal adolescent need to define oneself apart from family history while providing a window into a specific cultural and historical conflict. Parents will value how it models resilience and the way creative expression can serve as a lifeline during periods of social and personal upheaval.