Possum Summer

Reach for this book when your child is caught between their own strong moral compass and the practical expectations of their family or community. It is an ideal choice for the child who feels deeply for animals but sometimes struggles with the boundaries of responsibility and the consequences of keeping secrets. The story follows Princess, an eleven year old girl on an Oklahoma cattle ranch, who secretly rescues an orphaned opossum despite her father's strict rules about wild animals. It explores complex themes of honesty, the weight of a guilty conscience, and the difficult reality that loving something sometimes means letting it go. Parents will find it a grounded, realistic tool for discussing how good intentions can lead to risky choices and how to rebuild trust after a mistake. It is perfectly suited for middle grade readers who are beginning to navigate the gray areas of right and wrong.