About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child is beginning to spend time home alone and is grappling with feelings of loneliness or the weight of new independence. Fourth grader Jerry wants to be a soccer star, but his real life involves coming home to an empty house after school. His quiet afternoons are interrupted by a wrong number: a call from a younger, lonelier latchkey kid named Lucie. Their anonymous phone calls blossom into a secret, heartwarming friendship. This gentle story validates the feelings of latchkey kids and models empathy, kindness, and how connection can be found in the most unexpected ways. It's a comforting read for children navigating independence for the first time.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The core topic is the experience of being a "latchkey kid," which involves feelings of loneliness and the burden of self-reliance at a young age. The book addresses this directly and in a normalizing way, focusing on the emotional reality for the children rather than any external dangers. The tone is gentle and the resolution is hopeful, as the friendship provides a powerful antidote to their shared loneliness. The approach is entirely secular.
Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first!
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review
