Brushy Mountain

Reach for this book when your child is harboring a deep, persistent grudge or struggling to see the humanity in someone who is genuinely difficult or unkind. It is an ideal choice for the pre-teen who feels that some people are simply beyond redemption and needs a safe space to explore those complex feelings of resentment. Set in a rural mountain community, the story follows young Arney, who is consumed by a very real and relatable anger toward an old man named Hooker. This is a story about the complicated bridge between hating someone and choosing to help them anyway. It moves through themes of empathy and the unexpected softening of a hardened heart. While the protagonist starts with dark thoughts, the narrative provides a gentle, secular path toward forgiveness that is perfectly suited for readers aged 10 to 14. It models how our actions can change our feelings, rather than waiting for our feelings to change before we act.