Making Friends With Monsters

IngramSpark Bestselling Indie Young Adult Fiction Book

A Kirkus Review's Best Book

Booklife Prize Semi-Finalist

A powerful coming-of-age story about mental health, grief, family struggles, and hope.

Twelve-year-old Sam wants one thing: to help his older brother.

But when a life-changing accident awakens a darkness inside him, Sam's world begins to unravel. As guilt, anger, and fear take hold, he struggles to understand the powerful emotions threatening to damage the relationships he cares about most—including the girl he loves.

When Sam uncovers the family secret behind his brother's downward spiral, he realizes he isn't the only one carrying a monster within. To save himself and the people he loves, he'll have to face painful truths, confront his deepest fears, and discover the strength that comes from compassion, forgiveness, and hope.

Making Friends With Monsters is a powerful coming-of-age novel about mental health, grief, family struggles, and resilience. Through Sam's journey, readers will explore what it means to live with difficult emotions, find light in dark places, and learn that even our inner monsters deserve to be understood.

Perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally rich stories that blend suspense, heart, and unforgettable characters.

Content Note: This novel contains themes of suicide, loss, family dysfunction, trauma, and grief that may be difficult for some readers.