Red Palms

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with a significant loss of status or a sudden, unwanted change in family lifestyle. This historical novel follows fourteen year old Benita as her family transitions from a life of high society luxury in Ecuador to the grueling reality of surviving on a remote island during the Great Depression. It is a raw exploration of resilience, the breakdown of parental authority under stress, and the discovery of inner strength in the face of isolation. While the setting is historical, the emotional core deals with the universal adolescent experience of navigating a world that no longer feels safe or familiar. It is best suited for older middle schoolers and high schoolers due to its gritty depiction of survival and complex family dynamics.