Poison for Breakfast

Reach for this book when your child starts questioning the nature of truth, the purpose of art, or the confusing complexities of growing up. It is a perfect choice for the philosophical tween who feels a bit out of sync with the world or who enjoys deconstructing how stories are built. While the premise involves a note claiming the narrator has been poisoned, the book is actually a gentle, eccentric meditation on life and the connections between seemingly unrelated things. It addresses themes of grief and identity with a dry, sophisticated wit that validates a young person's burgeoning intellect. Parents will find it a wonderful tool for opening conversations about ethics, literature, and the beauty found in small, everyday moments, all wrapped in a mystery that is more about the journey than the destination.