Rules for Stealing Stars

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the confusing and often secret burden of a parent's struggle with addiction or mental health. It is an essential choice for families where children have stepped into caretaking roles or feel they must hide their domestic reality from the outside world. The story follows Silly and her three sisters as they navigate their mother's unpredictable alcoholism and their father's emotional withdrawal. By discovering a magical world hidden within their bedroom walls, the sisters find a temporary escape and a way to process their fractured family life. This middle grade novel uses fantasy as a powerful lens to explore resilience, the bond between siblings, and the courage it takes to face the truth. It provides a safe space for children ages 8 to 12 to see their own difficult feelings reflected and validated.