The Boy in the Box

A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling lonely, misunderstood, or like they don't quite fit in. The story follows Sullivan, a boy who feels invisible to his busy, intellectual parents. His quiet life changes when he discovers another boy, Manneken, living silently inside a large packing box in his house. This imaginative and gentle mystery explores themes of friendship, empathy, and self-discovery as Sullivan befriends the strange boy, who speaks a language no one understands. For ages 9-12, it's a wonderfully quirky and heartfelt story that normalizes feelings of loneliness and shows how friendship can blossom in the most unexpected ways, helping a child find their own voice.