This Is How I Find Her

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to balance the weight of a parent's mental health crisis with their own need for independence. This sensitive novel follows sixteen-year-old Sophie, who has spent years being the caretaker for her mother during episodes of bipolar disorder. When her mother is hospitalized after a suicide attempt, Sophie is sent to live with an aunt she barely knows, forcing her to confront the resentment, guilt, and love that define her family life. It is a deeply realistic look at the parentification of children and the slow, messy process of recovery. Parents will find it a valuable tool for validating a teen's anger and exhaustion while offering a roadmap for healing that doesn't rely on a magical cure. It is best suited for older teens due to its heavy subject matter and honest depiction of mental illness.