Emmy & Oliver

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with the push and pull of independence or navigating a friendship that has drastically changed after a long absence. It is a poignant exploration of how families react to trauma and the complex reality of loving people who have deeply disappointed us. The story follows Emmy, whose childhood best friend Oliver returns ten years after being kidnapped by his own father. While Oliver must reconcile his life in hiding with the truth of his abduction, Emmy must confront her own parents' stifling overprotectiveness, which was born from the fear of losing her too. It is a realistic, emotionally resonant novel for older teens that explores the nuance of forgiveness and the courage required to define oneself outside of a family crisis. Parents will appreciate its mature handling of healthy boundaries and the slow, earned process of rebuilding trust.