Drawing a Blank: Or How I Tried to Solve a Mystery, End a Feud, and Land the Girl of My Dreams

Reach for this book when you notice your teenager retreating into their own world, perhaps using art or hobbies as a shield against the pressures of social life and family expectations. It is an ideal choice for the child who feels like a perpetual outsider or struggles with the 'invisible' feeling of being the awkward kid in the room. The story follows Carleton, a socially anxious teen who must leave his comfort zone and travel to Scotland to save his kidnapped father, navigating an ancient feud and his own insecurities along the way. While the plot is a fast paced mystery, the heart of the story explores self confidence and the bridge between one's internal creative world and the external reality of relationships. It is appropriate for middle and high schoolers, offering a humorous yet sincere look at how bravery is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act despite it. Parents will appreciate how it normalizes social anxiety while showing a path toward personal growth and connection.