I'm about to Get Up!

Reach for this book when your teenager begins to question the moral authority of adults or is struggling with the disillusionment that comes with growing up. Set in the blistering heat of a 1978 Italian summer, the story follows nine-year-old Michele who discovers a horrific secret hidden in a hole near his village: a kidnapped boy. The realization that his own father and neighbors are responsible for this crime shatters his worldview and forces him into a dangerous, solitary moral awakening. This is a heavy, atmospheric read that deals with the end of childhood innocence and the weight of ethical choices. It is best suited for mature teens (13 plus) due to its intense themes of kidnapping, betrayal, and the threat of violence. Parents might choose this to open a deep dialogue about integrity, the complexity of family loyalty, and how one maintains their humanity in a community that has lost its way.