Life in the Balance

OK I think this is a book that will be really important to a lot of readers and I think it's a sensitive and helpful portrayal of a family affected by alcoholism and rehab.

that said for a pure reading experience, especially to me as an adult, it came across as pretty didactic to me. I still think it'll be good for kids who are struggling–not just with supporting a family member with alcoholism but also the secondary struggle of feeling overburdened with extracurricular activities and needing to pare down involvement.

So yeah I'd recommend it for young readers looking for this kind of issue book or for adults looking to use it as a conversation starter. If you're just an adult, unaffected by these issues looking for a leisure read, maybe skip.