The Heartbeats of Wing Jones

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is grappling with a sudden family tragedy or feels lost in the shadow of a sibling's success. It is an ideal choice for the adolescent who is struggling to articulate their grief and needs to see a model of resilience that isn't about moving on, but about moving forward through movement and self-discovery. Wing Jones is a biracial teenager living in the 1990s whose life is upended when her brother, the family's golden boy, is involved in a tragic accident. The story explores deep themes of cultural identity, the pressure of family expectations, and the healing power of physical discipline. It is a secular, realistic, and deeply emotional look at how a young woman finds her own voice and her own feet through track and field. Parents will appreciate how the book addresses the complexities of a multicultural household and the heavy reality of medical crises with honesty and eventual hope. It is best suited for readers aged 12 and up due to its mature handling of grief and systemic racism.