The Rhyming Season

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling to move through the heavy, quiet isolation of grief and needs a reminder that healing is a rhythmic, non-linear process. Following the loss of her brother, protagonist Brenda finds herself stuck between the person she was and the person she is becoming. Through the unconventional guidance of a poetry-loving basketball coach, she discovers that both the court and the page offer safe spaces to release her anger and sorrow. This story is an excellent choice for ages 12 and up, providing a realistic yet hopeful bridge between physical activity and emotional expression. Parents will appreciate how it validates the difficult 'messiness' of mourning while celebrating the power of female mentorship and peer support.