Make Believe

by Mac Barnett

First published 2026

The main character sees their everyday surroundings begin to change in unexpected ways. Nothing looks the same anymore. Simple moments with family members and friends take on new meaning. The protagonist notices details they missed before. These small realizations spark larger questions about who they are and where they fit. The story alternates between quiet moments of discovery and surprising revelations. Each character speaks with a voice that sounds real and present. The protagonist struggles to understand what growing up means when everything around them keeps shifting. Mac Barnett crafts a story about how young people decode the mysteries of adult life while carving out their own space in an ever-changing world.

Genres: literary-fiction, family-life, coming-of-age, contemporary

Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking

Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family

112 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company

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