Disappearing Act: A True Story

Reach for this book when your teen is struggling with the isolation of a family crisis, particularly the long-term illness or hospitalization of a parent. This verse memoir captures the delicate balance of trying to maintain a normal high school life (crushes, schoolwork, and friendships) while carrying the heavy secret of a father's health struggles and subsequent absence. It is an honest, poignant look at how we use creativity and writing to process things that feel too big for words. Parents will appreciate the way it validates the teen experience of 'keeping it together' while feeling like everything is falling apart. It is a realistic, secular, and ultimately resilient portrayal of family love and self-discovery for ages 12 and up.