Yellowcake

Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the heavier, unanswerable questions of life, such as the weight of grief, the complexity of justice, or the feeling of being an outsider. These thirteen stories take familiar foundations from folklore and the Bible and twist them into haunting, lyrical meditations on what it means to be human. Lanagan does not shy away from the shadows, making this an excellent choice for mature readers who find comfort in seeing their own complex emotions reflected in a magical, albeit dark, mirror. It is a sophisticated collection that serves as a bridge between childhood fairy tales and adult literary fiction, perfect for starting deep conversations about morality and identity.