Crown of Feathers

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to find their own identity apart from family expectations or a dominant sibling. It is a powerful choice for a young person who feels they must hide their true self or their ambitions to fit into a rigid social structure. The story follows Veronyka, a girl who disguises herself as a boy to join the Phoenix Riders, an elite group of warriors she was always told were extinct or forbidden. At its heart, this is a story about the courage to pursue a calling and the resilience required to overcome betrayal. It touches deeply on themes of self-confidence, the pain of loneliness, and the importance of finding a chosen family. Parents will find it a sophisticated high-fantasy world that mirrors the real-world pressures of adolescence: balancing loyalty to one's roots with the need to fly on one's own wings. While it contains intense action and some dark moments, it is ultimately an empowering narrative about agency and grit.