How to Make a Wish

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to set boundaries with an emotionally volatile or unreliable adult. It is a vital resource for older teens who feel they have become the 'parent' in their household and are ready to reclaim their own future. The story follows Grace, a talented seventeen year old musician who is tired of being uprooted every time her mother, Maggie, experiences a whim or a heartbreak. As Grace navigates a high stakes audition and her first real romance with a girl named Eva, she must learn that loving someone does not mean sacrificing her own stability. This contemporary novel explores the heavy weight of parentification and the transformative power of finding a chosen family. It is best suited for mature teens (ages 14 and up) due to its honest look at emotional neglect and its authentic depiction of queer identity and romance. Parents will find it a meaningful bridge for discussing independence and the realization that a parent's happiness is not a child's responsibility.