Egghead

Reach for this book when your middle schooler is grappling with the silent pressure of being a bystander or feels caught between social acceptance and loyalty to a friend. This verse novel follows the intersecting lives of three ninth graders: Will, the target of cruel bullying, Katie, who is torn between her old friendship with Will and her new popular social circle, and Devon, the bully himself. It captures the painful nuances of school social hierarchies and the internal battle to find one's voice. Parents will appreciate how it explores justice, shame, and the complexity of middle school relationships without offering easy or sugar-coated answers. It is an ideal tool for sparking deep conversations about empathy and the courage required to stand up when it matters most.