Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning

Reach for this book when your child starts feeling the prickly heat of jealousy or the fear that their best friend is moving on to bigger, faster, or more sophisticated things. Set in the lush, rainy landscape of 1970s Florida, the story follows eleven-year-old Violet as she navigates the arrival of Melissa, a confident newcomer from Detroit who threatens the comfortable rhythm of Violet's lifelong friendships. It is a deeply relatable exploration of the transition from childhood to the early stages of adolescence, focusing on the anxiety that comes when social circles shift. Parents will appreciate the way it validates the difficult feelings of being 'left behind' while gently showing that growing up does not mean losing one's true self. It is a perfect choice for middle-grade readers who are experiencing their first real friendship growing pains.