Eli the Good

A parent might reach for this book when their thoughtful child is starting to notice that life isn't always fair and that the adults they love are complex and flawed. Set in rural Kentucky during the 1976 Bicentennial, this poignant coming-of-age story follows ten-year-old Eli as he navigates a landscape of grief. His family is still reeling from his aunt's death, his father is haunted by his time in Vietnam, and his parents' marriage is strained. Through a new friendship and his own quiet observations, Eli tries to find his moral compass. For ages 10 to 14, this book is a gentle, powerful vehicle for discussing resilience, family love, moral ambiguity, and how to find goodness even when things are hard.