2022
WISE Score
Amazon
A masterclass in navigating the 'new normal' of divorce without the usual tropes or trauma-porn.
4.6
4.6View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
This is exactly the kind of book we need more of. It doesn't rely on magic or high-stakes villains to keep a kid's attention; it just relies on the truth of what it's like to grow up.
Stead avoids the 'boring' trap by making the emotional stakes feel as high as an alien invasion. If you have a kid who worries, or a kid navigating a divorce, or honestly just a kid who likes a really well-told story, this is a top-tier pick. It’s modern, it’s kind, and it’s actually worth the shelf space.
Perfect for the 8-12 crowd. It's sophisticated enough for a middle-schooler but gentle enough for a 3rd grader who is starting to notice that family life can be complicated.
It models a remarkably healthy post-divorce family dynamic. The focus is on emotional honesty, the value of therapy, and the idea that love doesn't have a fixed volume—it just expands.
While it's realistic fiction, the way it captures the internal logic and 'secret' thoughts of a ten-year-old is brilliant. The 'list' itself is a creative emotional tool kids can actually use.
It's a middle-grade novel with zero 'shock' content. It handles sensitive topics like divorce and LGBTQ+ families with grace and zero edge. No violence, no language issues.
This is an empathy machine. It tackles anxiety, the guilt of making mistakes, and the complexity of blended families in a way that actually gives kids a vocabulary for their own feelings.
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