Everything Is Fine

A parent might reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to process a family crisis or living with a caregiver facing severe mental health challenges. It speaks to the heavy burden of 'parentification,' where a child feels responsible for an adult's well-being. The story follows Mazzy, a young girl navigating the mundane trials of adolescence, such as body image and neighborly crushes, while secretly managing her mother's paralyzing clinical depression following a family tragedy. While the subject matter is profound, the narrative is punctuated with humor and the awkward realities of growing up. It is best suited for readers aged 12 and up who are ready for a realistic, secular exploration of grief, resilience, and the slow process of healing. Parents may choose it to validate a child's feelings of isolation and to open a door for honest conversations about mental health.