Pillage

Reach for this book when your middle-schooler is grappling with a significant life transition or feeling the weight of a family legacy they didn't ask for. It is an ideal choice for a child who feels like an outsider or is processing the grief of losing a parent, offering a fantastical lens through which to explore identity and personal responsibility. After the death of his mother, fifteen-year-old Beck Phillips is thrust into a mysterious world of eccentric relatives and a family curse that grants him the power to command nature. While the plot involves dragons and magic, the heart of the story focuses on Beck's internal struggle to choose his own path despite his inherited history. Parents will appreciate how it balances high-stakes adventure with deep emotional resonance, making it a gateway for discussing how our choices define us more than our DNA. It is most appropriate for ages 10 to 14, providing a safe space to explore complex feelings of isolation and the burden of expectation.