A Constellation of Minor Bears

Parents should reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to navigate the aftermath of a family tragedy or a sibling's life-altering injury. It is a vital resource for families dealing with the complex guilt and identity shifts that occur when a once-healthy family dynamic is permanently changed by disability. The story follows Molly, her brother Guy, and her best friend as they embark on a grueling hike along the Pacific Crest Trail after Guy suffers a traumatic brain injury. As a realistic contemporary novel, it explores raw grief, the weight of responsibility, and the nuance of Indigenous identity within a Michif/Metis context. Parents will appreciate its honest, secular approach to mental health and healing. While the emotional intensity is high, making it most suitable for ages 14 and up, the book offers a powerful roadmap for resilience and the realization that while we cannot go back to who we were, we can find a new way forward together.