Freshman Road Trip

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is standing on the precipice of a major life transition, such as graduating high school or leaving for college. It speaks directly to the bittersweet tension of wanting to hold onto old friendships while feeling the urgent pull of new independence. The story follows a group of friends on a final summer road trip before they head to different universities, capturing the shift from childhood comfort to adult responsibility. It explores themes of loyalty, the fear of losing one's identity, and the anxiety of the unknown. Parents will find it a helpful tool for normalizing the messy, often contradictory emotions that come with saying goodbye to a familiar chapter of life. It is most appropriate for middle to late teens who are beginning to navigate their own paths while wrestling with the permanence of change.