Secret Star

Reach for this book when your teenager is wrestling with questions about their identity, family secrets, or the feeling that a part of their history is missing. Fourteen-year-old Tess lives a quiet life in rural poverty with her stepfather, but a mysterious stranger with a scarred face forces her to confront the gaps in her memory and the truth about her biological father. It is a poignant exploration of how we define family and the courage it takes to reclaim one's own narrative. While it contains elements of mystery and suspense, the heart of the story is the profound bond between Tess and the man who chose to raise her. It is an ideal choice for middle schoolers seeking realistic fiction that honors the complexity of their emotional lives without being overly graphic.