The Fold

Reach for this book when your teenager begins expressing dissatisfaction with their physical appearance or comparing themselves to narrow, westernized beauty standards. The Fold follows Joyce, a Korean American girl navigating the pressure of her aunt's offer to pay for blepharoplasty, plastic surgery to create double eyelids. It is a nuanced exploration of self-esteem, cultural identity, and the complicated way family members show love and provide unsolicited advice. While it centers on a specific cultural experience, any teen struggling with the desire to fit in will find Joyce's journey relatable. This is a realistic, thoughtful contemporary novel appropriate for middle and high schoolers who are ready to discuss body image and the influence of media and family on self-worth.