Sneaking Out

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is beginning to grapple with the heavy weight of family secrets and the confusing rush of first love. It is a story about Phil, a boy growing up in a bohemian household with his eccentric mother and twin sister, who finds himself falling for a mysterious new classmate while uncovering long-hidden truths about his father. The narrative explores identity, LGBTQ+ discovery, and the realization that parents are flawed human beings. It is most appropriate for older teens due to its mature themes of sexuality and family dysfunction. Parents will appreciate how it validates the messy, non-linear process of finding one's place in the world while offering a hopeful perspective on self-acceptance.