This One Summer

A parent would reach for this book when their teen is standing on the precipice between childhood and adolescence, feeling the friction of family secrets and the confusing reality of adult problems. It is a vital resource for a child who is beginning to notice that their parents are flawed individuals and that growing up often means losing the simple safety of younger years. The story follows Rose during a summer at the lake where her usual refuge is disrupted by her parents' constant fighting and a local drama involving older teens. It captures the quiet heartache of watching a marriage fray while simultaneously navigating changing friendships and body image. While it deals with mature themes like teen pregnancy and emotional distance, it provides a safe, artistic space for readers aged 12 to 16 to process the messy transition into the 'older' world. Parents will value it for its honesty and its ability to validate a teen's complex observations of the adults in their lives.