Lily B. on the Brink of Cool

Reach for this book when your middle schooler begins expressing embarrassment over your family's ordinary habits or starts obsessing over a more glamorous, sophisticated lifestyle. Lily B. on the Brink of Cool is a witty look at the universal struggle of identity formation, following a young writer named Lily who believes her ticket to social relevance is her stylish, distant relative. As she tries to reinvent herself, she discovers that the people who seem the most interesting often have the most complex secrets. This story addresses themes of self-confidence, jealousy, and the realization that 'cool' is often a performance. It is a perfect choice for ages 10 to 14 to help normalize the feeling of being an outsider in one's own home while gently reinforcing the value of authentic family bonds.