Middletown

A parent would reach for this book when their family is quietly struggling with a loved one's substance abuse and they need a way to validate their child's secret burdens. The story follows Claire and her older sister Alice as they navigate life in a town where everything seems ordinary on the surface, while their mother's alcoholism creates a chaotic, unpredictable reality at home. It explores themes of sisterly bonds, the weight of keeping family secrets, and the realization that a parent's struggle is not the child's fault. Written for middle schoolers, it offers a realistic but ultimately hopeful perspective on resilience and the importance of finding one's own voice and support system during times of domestic instability.