Tender middle-grade debut novel tackles parental addiction

Author John Cochran’s uplifting middle-grade novel, “Breaking Into Sunlight,” reminds me anew of how important it is for children to read books that feature issues they may confront or that may affect their friends.

The debut novel, which releases June 18 from Algonquin Young Readers, deftly describes a boy grappling with his father’s opioid addiction— and offers hope and a focus on community along the way.

“It's important to confront and explore difficult issues and not gloss over the hard and painful things in life, but honestly, if a story isn't ultimately good news, I don't see the point in writing it,” Cochran, a friend and former journalism colleague, said. “‘Breaking into Sunlight’ points to hope, and in a way that I think is real, not Pollyanna or simplistic.”

The novel is already receiving high praise. It was announced this week that Cochran will be a featured author at the American Booksellers Association Children's Institute in New Orleans in June, with “Breaking Into Sunlight” picked as a top 10 debut for kids.

The novel also received a starred review this month from “School Library Journal,” which calls it “an important novel for every library to have. Readers will find they’re not alone in dealing with a loved one’s addiction, as an estimated one in eight children have a parent dealing with substance abuse.”

I read an early copy of this excellent novel, which mixes childhood fun and life’s hard questions. When I finished, I immediately pre-ordered a “final” copy. Written for grades five through eight, it’s well worth a read by adults, too.

Inspired by real life:

“Like Reese Buck, the boy at the center of my novel, I've watched people I love struggling with addiction, and I wanted so badly to make them better but didn't know how,” Cochran said. “Lots of people have been there or are there right now — including millions of kids…That means that in any given classroom in a school, chances are good that not just one, but two or even three kids are dealing with this issue. As Reese learns, it's through community and connection that we find our way forward, despite pain and loss…”

More about the story:

“Breaking Into Sunlight” features a seventh grader in rural North Carolina who loves drawing, basketball, his hardworking mom and his charming dad. But one day, he comes home from school to find his dad unconscious on the bathroom floor. He’s overdosed on opioids. Again. The boy, Reese, calls 911 and gets his dad out of danger.

This is the breaking point for his mom, and she declares they are leaving until Reese’s dad gets real help with his addiction. When they move to a rundown trailer in the country, Reese is furious with his mom, scared for his dad and terrified his friends will find out. Then he meets Meg and Charlie, who have likewise been stranded by circumstances beyond their control. As the trio explores a nearby river, Reese discovers new joy in fresh connections.

More about the author:

Cochran lives in a 110-year-old rowhouse near the U.S. Capitol with his wife and two kids. He is currently at work on a middle-grade novel about a boy dealing with homelessness. “I love the middle-grade years, when kids are still kids, but also are beginning to wrestle seriously with important, foundational questions about the world and our place in it.”To contact him about book club visits and school discussions, in-person or virtual, see https://johncochranauthor.com (which includes resources for parents, teachers and young readers on the issue of addiction) or email johnmichaelcochran@gmail.com.

A final word from Cochran for young readers:

“If you are one of these kids, remember that you are not alone. Far from it. And know that you don’t have to hide your worry and pain or feel ashamed. People around you – your friends, other family, your teachers, counselors or other trusted grownups – can listen, help you sort through what you’re dealing with and find a positive way forward.”

Columnist Judy Christie and NYT bestselling author Lisa Wingate co-authored “Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society,” the nonfiction sequel to Wingate’s bestselling novel “Before We Were Yours.” For more about Christie, see www.judychristie.com or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JudyChristieAuthor.

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Tender middle-grade debut novel tackles parental addiction