The Wicked and the Just

Reach for this book when your teenager begins questioning the ethics of the systems they live within or feels the weight of inherited privilege. Set in 13th-century Wales, it follows two girls on opposite sides of a brutal colonial occupation: Cecily, the daughter of an English lord, and Gwenhwyfar, a Welsh girl forced into service. The story tackles intense themes of systemic injustice, complicity, and the moral gray areas of survival. It is an excellent choice for mature middle and high schoolers who enjoy historical fiction that does not sugarcoat the realities of power and class. Parents will find it a powerful tool for discussing how individual choices impact others within a broken system.