Mind's Eye

Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with a sudden physical limitation or feeling trapped by their circumstances. It is a profound choice for a child who feels their world has become small due to illness or injury. The story, written as a play, follows sixteen-year-old Courtney, who is paralyzed and bitter after an accident. In a nursing home, she meets Elva, an elderly blind woman who refuses to let her world be defined by her room. Together, they use a 1910 guidebook to take a vivid, imaginary journey through Italy. This book explores the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of creativity. It offers a realistic yet hopeful look at how we can find freedom through the mind when the body feels like a cage. It is an excellent bridge for discussing empathy, aging, and the strength found in intergenerational friendships.