The Curse of Addy McMahon

Reach for this book when your child is facing a major life transition, such as moving to a new neighborhood or adjusting to a parent's remarriage, and seems to be masking their anxiety with humor or creative withdrawal. Twelve-year-old Addy McMahon feels like her life is under a 'curse' as her mom prepares to marry a man she barely likes and they move away from her best friend. Through a blend of traditional prose and Addy's own cartoon drawings, the story captures the messy, non-linear process of accepting change. This hybrid novel is perfect for middle schoolers who feel like their world is being rewritten without their consent. It validates the frustration of being a child in a changing family dynamic while providing a hopeful roadmap for finding agency through art and storytelling. Parents will appreciate how it models healthy emotional processing without being overly sentimental or preachy.