Last Chance

Reach for this book when your teen is struggling with a reputation for being a troublemaker or feels like authority figures have already given up on them. It provides a grounded, realistic look at the weight of past mistakes and the difficult work required to earn back trust. The story follows a boy on probation who is forced to work at an animal shelter, where he finds an unlikely connection with a dog facing its own last chance. McClintock uses the mystery of a possible crime to explore deep themes of integrity, justice, and the difference between being guilty of a mistake and being a bad person. It is a perfect choice for middle and high schoolers who appreciate grit over sentimentality. Parents will find it a valuable tool for discussing how we define ourselves when the world expects us to fail.