Sometimes the right book understands you better than the people around you.

Books can be an escape, a reality check, or a reminder that someone else has felt something similar. Maybe you want a story about complicated families. Maybe you want characters who are figuring out who they are. Or maybe you just want to disappear into another world for a while.

All of those are good reasons to read.

Punching the Air — Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

A powerful novel written in verse about a teenager navigating wrongful incarceration, injustice, identity, and the struggle to be heard. A story about finding your voice when the world seems determined to define you.

The Hate U Give — Angie Thomas

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter navigates two very different worlds while confronting injustice, loyalty, identity, and the pressure to speak up. A story about courage, complicated choices, and finding your own voice.

Harbor Me — Jacqueline Woodson

Six students find an unexpected place where they can talk openly about the things they usually keep hidden. Their experiences with family separation, incarceration, and other challenges remind us how powerful it can be to find people who understand.

Long Way Down — Jason Reynolds

Told in verse, this intense novel follows a teenager confronting grief, violence, anger, and the choices that could change his future. A thought-provoking story about breaking cycles and questioning expectations.

A note about these books: Some explore serious topics, including violence, injustice, grief, and incarceration. You get to decide what you're comfortable reading. And remember, not every book you pick up needs to teach you something about your life. Reading for fun counts, too.

Not everything that helps has to look like therapy.

Sometimes you need to talk. Sometimes you need to move. Sometimes you need loud music, a quiet room, or an hour where nobody expects anything from you.

There's no single right way to work through complicated feelings. Here are a few things worth trying.

Make a Playlist for Every Mood

Create playlists for the days you're angry, sad, hopeful, overwhelmed, or just need to escape for a while. Music can help you express feelings you haven't figured out how to put into words.

Write What You Can't Say

Keep a private journal, write poetry, or type notes on your phone. Write a letter you'll never send. Say the things you're afraid to say out loud. You don't have to show anyone.

Find Your Thing

Photography, gaming, sports, music, drawing, reading, cooking, hiking—whatever makes you feel like yourself. Having something that's entirely yours matters, especially when other parts of life feel out of your control.

Build Your People List

Think about the people who make you feel accepted, respected, and safe. Maybe it's a friend, teacher, coach, relative, or counselor. You don't need a huge circle. Sometimes one trustworthy person makes all the difference.

Take a Break From the Noise

Social media, school drama, family stress, and everyone's opinions can get exhausting. Give yourself permission to disconnect, get outside, move your body, or simply do something that doesn't require you to think about everything at once.

Create Something That Represents You

Make a vision board, photo collage, playlist cover, or collection of quotes that reflects your interests, values, and hopes for the future. Include the things that make you you, not just the circumstances you're navigating.

Remember: You don't have to turn every difficult experience into a life lesson. Sometimes getting through a hard day is enough. And if things feel too heavy to manage alone, reaching out for support is a valid next step.

Some questions deserve more than “I'm fine.”

You might have things you've wanted to say for years. You might have questions nobody seems willing to answer. Or you might not want to talk about your family at all.

These questions aren't a test, and you don't owe anyone your answers.

Think about them privately, write them down, or talk them through with someone you trust. Your choice.

About You

• Who are you when nobody else is telling you who to be?

• What's something people assume about you that isn't true?

• When do you feel most like yourself?

• What's something you wish adults would stop saying to you?

About Family

• Can you love someone and still be disappointed or angry with them?

• What do you wish people understood about having an incarcerated family member?

• Do you ever feel responsible for keeping other people in your family happy?

• What would you like your relationship with your incarcerated loved one to look like, if you want one?

About Friends & Belonging

• What makes someone trustworthy enough to know personal things about your life?

• Have you ever felt like you needed to hide part of yourself to fit in?

• What does real friendship look like to you?

• Who makes you feel accepted without needing an explanation?

About Your Future

• What do you want your life to look like in five years?

• What dreams are yours—not someone else's expectations?

• What's something you want to experience that has nothing to do with your family situation?

• What would you tell a younger version of yourself?

One thing worth remembering: You can change your mind. About your feelings, your relationships, your boundaries, and what you want for your future. Growing up means discovering who you are, not committing to being the same person forever.

Your story belongs to you. You decide who gets to hear it.

When someone in your family is incarcerated, other people can get curious. Sometimes they're genuinely trying to understand. Sometimes they're judgmental. And sometimes they ask questions that are absolutely none of their business.

You don't have to answer them.

When Someone Asks About Your Family

You can say:

• “That's personal. I'd rather not talk about it.”

• “It's complicated, and I'm not getting into it.”

• “I don't really want to discuss my family.”

• “Can we talk about something else?”

You don't need a better explanation than that.

When Someone Says Something Hurtful

You don't have to debate, defend, or educate someone who is being cruel.

It's okay to walk away, set a boundary, or tell a trusted adult when someone is harassing or bullying you.

Someone else's behavior doesn't determine your worth.

When Your Feelings About Family Are Complicated

You can miss someone and be angry with them.

You can love someone and disagree with their choices.

You can want contact, need space, or feel unsure about what kind of relationship you want.

You are not responsible for fixing the adults in your life, and you don't have to choose a side to prove your loyalty.

When You Need Someone to Talk To

You deserve support without judgment.

A trusted teacher, school counselor, coach, relative, therapist, or another safe adult can help you work through difficult situations. You don't have to wait until everything feels unbearable to reach out.

If the first person doesn't listen or understand, it's okay to try someone else.

When You're Thinking About Your Future

Your parent's choices are not your destiny.

You are allowed to dream about college, a career, traveling, building relationships, creating art, starting a business, or doing something nobody in your family has ever done before.

You are also allowed to change your plans.

Your future isn't a punishment for someone else's past.