
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with a chronic health diagnosis and feels isolated from their peers or frustrated by their changing body. This story follows Priya, a student who must drop out of her dream college due to Lyme disease. She finds solace in an online support group of friends with various conditions, only to discover one friend's illness is actually lycanthropy. Through a blend of contemporary realism and urban fantasy, the book validates the exhaustion and grief of illness while emphasizing that one's value is not tied to physical productivity. It is a compassionate and often humorous look at identity for ages 13 and up. Parents will appreciate how it de-stigmatizes medical struggles and fosters a sense of community for kids who feel like they are missing out on normal life.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewDescription of werewolf transformations and animalistic behavior.
Occasional mild profanity consistent with realistic teen dialogue.
The book addresses chronic illness, medical gaslighting, and disability with a direct, secular approach. While the lycanthropy is a fantasy element, it serves as a powerful metaphor for the unpredictable and often frightening ways our bodies can change. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, focusing on management and acceptance rather than a 'magical cure.'
A high schooler who feels betrayed by their own health, or any teen who finds their truest community online and needs to see those digital bonds validated as real and life-saving.
Cold reading is fine, though parents should be prepared for some frank discussions about bodily functions and the frustrations of the healthcare system. A parent might see their child withdrawing from 'real life' activities, expressing anger at their physical limitations, or spending all their time talking to people they only know online.
Younger teens will gravitate toward the werewolf mystery and the humor. Older teens will resonate deeply with the themes of lost milestones and the anxiety of transitioning into adulthood with a disability.
It is one of the few books that successfully blends high-stakes fantasy with the mundane, often-ignored reality of chronic fatigue and invisible illness without being clinical or overly tragic.
Priya is back home living with her parents, her life on hold due to chronic Lyme disease. She spends her days in a Discord-style chat room with other 'spoonies' until she realizes her friend Brigid's symptoms are actually supernatural. The group must band together to help Brigid survive her transformation while navigating their own very real, non-magical medical challenges.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.