Rag and Bone Shop: A Novel, The

Reach for this book when your teenager begins questioning the integrity of those in power or feels overwhelmed by the pressure to please authority figures. Robert Cormier’s final novel is a psychological masterclass in how easy it is for an innocent person to be manipulated into a false confession. It follows 12 year old Jason, who is the last person to see a young girl alive, and the veteran interrogator who uses every trick in the book to break him. This is a challenging read that explores themes of trust, systemic corruption, and the loss of innocence. It is best suited for mature teens who are ready to grapple with the uncomfortable reality that truth does not always lead to justice. Parents might choose this as a cautionary tale to spark vital conversations about legal rights and personal boundaries.