Violets Are Blue

A parent would reach for this book when they need to navigate the confusing space between a child's growing independence and a family crisis involving parental mental health or addiction. While it begins as a story about the transition to a new middle school after divorce, it quickly becomes a vital tool for families dealing with the specific shame and silence of a parent's opioid misuse. The story follows twelve year old Wren as she finds solace in the transformative power of special effects makeup while simultaneously realizing her mother is hiding a serious struggle. It is a nuanced, compassionate, and age appropriate look at how a child's love for a parent coexists with the need for boundaries and external help. Parents will find this an essential resource for normalizing the complex feelings of guilt and loyalty that arise when a primary caregiver is unwell.