King Dork

A parent might reach for this book when their teenager feels like an absolute outsider, struggling to navigate the toxic hierarchies of high school while grappling with a deep, unspoken grief. It is a lifeline for the kid who uses sarcasm as a shield and feels more connected to old records and obscure books than to their own peer group. The story follows Tom Henderson, a self-described loser who discovers a mystery hidden within his late father's copy of The Catcher in the Rye. While the book is hilarious and fast-paced, it deals honestly with the disorientation of losing a parent and the search for an authentic identity. It is best suited for older teens due to its gritty, realistic portrayal of high school social dynamics, including profanity and mature social situations, making it a powerful tool for validating the experience of a young adult who feels fundamentally misunderstood by the world around them.