Steering Toward Normal

A parent should reach for this book when their middle-schooler is grappling with a major family change, like divorce, and feeling like their family is no longer 'normal'. 'Steering Toward Normal' tells the story of Diggy, whose world is turned upside down when he's sent to live on his grandparents' farm for the summer. There, he has to navigate not only the challenges of raising a prize steer for the 4-H fair but also the fact that his newly divorced father has moved in with his new partner, Wayne. The book masterfully blends humor with heartfelt emotion, exploring themes of identity, friendship, and what it truly means to be a family. For kids ages 10-14, it offers a gentle and relatable look at adapting to a new reality and discovering that 'normal' is whatever you make it.