About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when a child is struggling to cope with a parent returning home changed, either by deployment, illness, or injury. Set during the Vietnam War, the story follows 12-year-old Lucy, whose father comes home with a severe brain injury that has altered his memory and personality. Lucy grapples with grief for the father she remembers and anxiety about her family's new reality. For readers 9-13, this poignant novel gently explores how love adapts and how a family can find a new normal. It's a powerful tool for building empathy and starting conversations about resilience, invisible wounds, and the true meaning of family.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The central sensitive topic is the father's acquired disability (TBI and aphasia) resulting from war trauma. The approach is direct and realistic, focusing on the emotional impact on the family rather than the violence of war. It portrays the daily struggles and frustrations with honesty and empathy. The resolution is hopeful but grounded in reality: the father is not magically cured, but the family finds a new way to love and understand one another, accepting their 'new normal.' The perspective is entirely secular.
Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first!
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review
