Death Benefits

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with the burden of family responsibility or feeling resentful about the 'forced' time spent with an aging, difficult relative. It provides a compassionate yet hilariously honest look at the friction between youthful independence and the slow, often messy process of elder care. The story follows Thomas, a teen who moves to the city to care for his eccentric, ninety-eight-year-old grandfather. As they navigate the gap between generations, Thomas discovers that his grandfather is not just a patient to be managed, but a person with a rich, complicated history that mirrors his own search for identity. It is a perfect choice for families navigating multigenerational living or looking to open a dialogue about empathy, family secrets, and the reality of aging without being overly sentimental.