Lost Boy

Reach for this book when your child is struggling to settle into a new environment or feels like an outsider in a community with deep, unspoken roots. It is perfect for children who are sensitive to the 'ghosts' of the past and need to see that finding their place often involves understanding the history of those who came before them. Moving to Hay-on-Wye, Matt Lanchester is unsettled by a roadside memorial bearing his own initials: M.L. This haunting coincidence leads him into a local mystery involving a tragedy from years ago. The story gently explores themes of grief, the weight of secrets, and the importance of empathy. It is a sophisticated, atmospheric choice for middle-grade readers that validates the loneliness of being the 'new kid' while offering a hopeful path toward belonging.