Chronically Dolores

Reach for this book if your teenager is struggling with the invisible weight of a chronic condition or the isolating feeling of being fundamentally different from their peers. It follows Dolores, a girl managing a severe bladder condition that makes every high school hallway feel like a minefield of potential embarrassment. This is a story about the messy, often humorous, and deeply vulnerable process of finding 'your people' when you feel broken. Parents will appreciate the raw honesty regarding medical trauma and neurodiversity, as Dolores navigates a complex friendship with Terpsichore, who is on the autism spectrum. It is an affirming choice for 14-to-18-year-olds that validates the difficulty of being a 'patient' while trying to just be a person.