You Know I'm No Good

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling with a self-fulfilling prophecy of being the bad kid or a lost cause. It speaks directly to the experience of a child who acts out to mask deep-seated trauma and a feeling of being unwanted after family upheaval. The story follows seventeen-year-old Mia as she is sent to a residential treatment center in the wilderness after a violent outburst at her stepmother. While the setting is a facility for troubled youth, the heart of the narrative explores the messy process of self-forgiveness and the courage required to dismantle a defensive, prickly exterior. It is an honest, unflinching look at mental health and family dynamics for older teens, offering a hopeful perspective on the possibility of healing without sugarcoating the difficulty of the journey. Parents will find it a valuable tool for understanding the silent pain behind a teenager's anger and the importance of finding a community where one feels truly seen.