Summer Bird Blue

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with the aftermath of a sudden family tragedy and seems to be withdrawing into anger or creative paralysis. It is a profound exploration of a sister's grief, following Rumi as she is sent to Hawaii to live with her aunt after her younger sister dies in a car accident. The story moves beyond simple sadness, delving into the messy reality of feeling abandoned by a grieving parent and the frustration of losing the one person who shared your passion. This novel is best suited for mature teens (13 and up) due to its heavy emotional weight and honest depiction of depression and guilt. Parents will appreciate how it validates that healing is not linear and that it is okay to feel angry at the person you lost. It provides a helpful roadmap for discussing how art and community can slowly help a person reconnect with the world when they feel most isolated.