The Summer We Got Played

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the shifting social hierarchies of middle school or recovering from the sting of a public social blunder. It provides a mirror for those awkward transitional summers where childhood games no longer feel right, but the rules of teenage social life are still a mystery. The story follows five friends whose easy bond is tested by secrets and the pressures of fitting in. Parents will appreciate how it validates the intense emotions of the eighth-grade transition. It offers a gentle roadmap for navigating peer pressure and the necessary, if painful, process of making amends when you have let a friend down. It is an ideal pick for ages 9 to 13, emphasizing that while growing up involves making mistakes, integrity and loyalty are the anchors that help you weather the storm.