Insurgent

Reach for this book when your teen is wrestling with the heavy burden of guilt, the complexity of grief, or the feeling that their choices have permanently altered who they are. In this second installment of the Divergent series, Tris Prior navigates a world on the brink of civil war while being haunted by the deaths of her parents and a friend she was forced to kill. It is a raw exploration of post-traumatic stress, the sacrifice required for the greater good, and the realization that identity is fluid rather than fixed. While the setting is a high-stakes dystopian world, the core of the story is deeply psychological. It deals with themes of forgiveness and the courage it takes to be honest when the truth is dangerous. Due to intense violence and mature emotional themes, it is best suited for older teens who can handle a darker, more contemplative narrative about the consequences of one's actions.