Clockwork, or All Wound Up

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the pressure of high expectations or the paralyzing fear of failure. It is a masterful choice for the middle-schooler who feels like they are just going through the motions or being 'wound up' by others' demands. This suspenseful, dark fairy tale weaves together the stories of a desperate apprentice clockmaker, a mysterious storyteller, and a mechanical knight that comes to life. Beyond the eerie atmosphere, it explores the deep emotional themes of agency, the weight of our choices, and the importance of having a warm heart in a world that can feel cold and mechanical. It is a sophisticated, relatively short read that offers a safe space to discuss the ethics of 'shortcuts' and the scary reality of losing control over one's own narrative. While spooky, its Grimm-like logic provides a satisfying framework for children ages 9 to 13 to process complex anxieties about the future.