The Sandfather

Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with a sense of distance from a parent or is beginning to ask deeper questions about their family history. It is particularly resonant for children who feel like outsiders within their own homes or who use art as a primary way to process their emotions. The story follows sixteen year old Hal, who spends a summer with his estranged, eccentric father on a remote island, slowly peeling back layers of secrecy and misunderstanding. The narrative addresses themes of identity, the weight of the past, and the often messy process of forgiveness. Parents will appreciate Newbery’s sophisticated, atmospheric prose and the way she validates the complex feelings of a teenager who is trying to reconcile the person they thought their parent was with the person they actually are. It is a quiet, thoughtful, and ultimately hopeful exploration of building trust from the ground up.