You shouldn't love each other by yelling. And yet, at Ava's house, that's exactly how it works.
Ava is 13, and she has a theory: her parents are annoying. Officially. Scientifically. Provably. They yell "SET THE TABLE!" the second she's finally relaxing. They blame her for the broken bowl she didn't break, the lagging Wi-Fi, and probably climate change. And when she gets a good grade, it's "what did the others get?" But a bad grade? "Who cares about the others." The rules change daily. Nobody signed off on them.
What you'll find inside:- The Great Sock War (a fight that escalates from "is this yours?" to "your attitude since 2018" in under five lines).
- A brother who carries ONE carton of milk and gets a standing ovation, while Ava hauls three bags and gets "you forgot to rinse the silverware."
- A dad who sings in public. Loudly. Off-key. And then asks, "Am I being embarrassing?"
- A mom who's calm and elegant... until she sits behind a steering wheel and becomes Fast & Furious in an IKEA parking lot.
- An imaginary courtroom where Ava is on trial for Everything, with the broken bowl testifying against her.
- And a "Take a page from your brother" served at dinner that stings more than she'll admit.
Ever been blamed for something before you even opened your mouth? Rolled your eyes so fast they moved on their own? Wanted to disappear into the sidewalk because your parents talk too loud in a store? Then you already know Ava.
Hilarious on the outside, surprisingly tender on the inside. Underneath the eye-rolls, this diary is about what family really feels like at 13: feeling like the default guilty party, decoding "clean your room" as "you're not good enough," and slowly realizing that her brother thinks *she's* the favorite. It's about loud love. The messy, imperfect, door-slamming kind that doesn't look like a postcard, but never lets go.
The chapter that gets parents right in the heart. After a brutal day, Ava cries alone in her room, doing everything to not be heard. Then there's a knock. Nobody delivers a perfect speech. They just sit down, one on each side, and stay. Because behind the yelling, there's worry. Behind the comments, there's love. And on Sundays, no matter how big the fight was the night before, it still smells like pancakes.
Inside this diary:- Ten chapters told in Ava's honest, funny, self-deprecating voice
- Dozens of illustrations throughout
- A bonus "Top 10 Worst Parent Phrases" (ranked, with love and a sigh)
- Completely clean content parents can hand over without reading first
Perfect for: girls ages 9 to 12, birthday and holiday gifts, reluctant readers, and honestly, for parents who'll recognize themselves on every page.
A title in the "Diary of a Tween Girl" collection. Each book stands completely on its own. Start anywhere.
Scroll up and grab a copy. Ava's already rolling her eyes.
