The Rock and the River

Reach for this book when your teen is beginning to question the status quo or feels torn between different ways of standing up for what is right. It is a powerful resource for families navigating the tension between traditional values and the urgent, sometimes radical, call for social change. In 1968 Chicago, fourteen-year-old Sam must choose between his father's path of nonviolent protest and his brother's involvement with the Black Panther Party. The story explores deep themes of loyalty, systemic racism, and the complex reality of finding one's own voice within a family of strong convictions. It is best suited for mature middle schoolers and high school students who are ready to engage with the historical realities of the Civil Rights Movement. Parents will appreciate how it moves beyond simple binaries of right and wrong to show the human heart behind political activism.