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For the Record
A middle-grade novel thoughtfully explores the realities of parents’ divorce
Twelve-year-old Justine’s parents are recently divorced. She and her little sister, Bea, go back and forth between their parents’ homes in Montreal. Their mother, whose anxiety manifests as the need to control, believes that their father and beloved half-sister are a bad influence on Justine and Bea. So, she enlists Justine in collecting evidence that would lead to getting sole custody.
Justine accepts her mother’s view of her father at first and begins writing detailed notes about his behavior: He doesn’t stick to Bea’s strict bedtime. He’s late dropping them off at school. He makes sandwiches with white bread. But when Justine crafts an outright lie for her mother’s court case, she starts to question her mother’s behavior, and her own.
This thoughtful, supportive look at parental alienation and its impact on children tenderly balances this difficult topic with moments of joy, love, and connection. Throughout the book, Justine’s clever, unique voice guides readers as she navigates complicated family dynamics and summons the courage to tell the truth, no matter the consequences.
Twelve-year-old Justine’s parents are recently divorced. She and her little sister, Bea, go back and forth between their parents’ homes in Montreal. Their mother, whose anxiety manifests as the need to control, believes that their father and beloved half-sister are a bad influence on Justine and Bea. So, she enlists Justine in collecting evidence that would lead to getting sole custody.
Justine accepts her mother’s view of her father at first and begins writing detailed notes about his behavior: He doesn’t stick to Bea’s strict bedtime. He’s late dropping them off at school. He makes sandwiches with white bread. But when Justine crafts an outright lie for her mother’s court case, she starts to question her mother’s behavior, and her own.
This thoughtful, supportive look at parental alienation and its impact on children tenderly balances this difficult topic with moments of joy, love, and connection. Throughout the book, Justine’s clever, unique voice guides readers as she navigates complicated family dynamics and summons the courage to tell the truth, no matter the consequences.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published March 15, 2022
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79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 27, 2022
Darkly poignant and frustrating but ultimately wrapped up in a way that feels a bit too neat and tidy.
October 28, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Justine and her younger sister Bea are struggling with their parents' divorce, and with going back and forth between their mother and father's places. Neither situation is ideal; their father's apartment is disorganized and run down, and he doesn't adhere to their mother's rules. Their mother has struggled with some mental health issues, and seems very fragile. Sometimes she doesn't eat and is depressed, and she has very strict rules for the girls. Justine has started a notebook to keep track of when her father doesn't follow the recommendations for what the two eat, what activities they do, and whether or not they follow safety procedures like wearing seatbelts. They do like the stability of the mother's, and the fun of their father's. He has his daughter from another marriage, Marry, living with his sometimes, and Justine especially loves to be with her sister. When he adopts a cat from a shelter, the girls are glad to visit their father and Sheldon, their new one eyed cat. They are also interested in spending time with their French grandmother, who has come to live with their father. Things take an unfortunate when Sheldon gets out of the house and runs across the street, and Bea follows. She's just four, so while she knows the rules, doesn't always remember them. Her father grabs her roughly to stop her from going into the street. When Justine realizes what has happened, she thinks that if she reports about this in a bad way, her mother will be happier. Of course, this also means that their father will lose custody, but Justine seems unconcerned about that, although she loves her father. When she tells her mother, the girls are assigned their own lawyer, who walks them through their experience at their father's. Eventually, they are no longer allowed to visit him at home, but must have a supervised visit. When the process drags on, the mother decides to take a better job in a different city, knowing that this will speed up the proceedings. Justine realizes that she could be further estranged from her father, Marry, and her grandmother if her mother is allowed to take them. Will she be able to tell the judge the truth about her situation?
Strengths: There are a lot of books that deal with the grieving process when a parent dies, but oddly few dealing with how children deal with divorce. It can be very complicated, and moving between households can be stressful. I liked how there were some positive things, and that Justine had a good relationship with her sister Marry and grandmother. It was also interesting to see part of the legal process involving custody, from Justine's perspective. There was even a little bit of friend drama. An author's note at the back explains the phenomenon of Parental Alienation Syndrome, which explains why Justine was fighting for her mother even though she loved her father.
Weaknesses: It was a bit confusing to see Justine sabotage her father. I wish there had been more specific examples of her mother manipulating her, or that Justine had been shown thinking about what she was doing to her father and their relationship
What I really think: This was a bit more of an elementary school book because of the large amount of time spent with the parents. Middle school stories spend a lot more time with children distancing themselves of spending time on their own. Include this with other books involving children's experiences of divorce, including Payne's The Thing About Leftovers, Burt's The 12 Dares of Christa, Carr's 365 Days to Alaska, Murphy's Dear Sweet Pea, Mackler's Not if I Can Help It, Youngblood's Love Like Sky, Burke's An Occasionally Happy Family, and Draper's Blended. Interesting note: there seem to be a disproportionate number of books about divorce with girls as the main characters. Burke's title is the exception.
Justine and her younger sister Bea are struggling with their parents' divorce, and with going back and forth between their mother and father's places. Neither situation is ideal; their father's apartment is disorganized and run down, and he doesn't adhere to their mother's rules. Their mother has struggled with some mental health issues, and seems very fragile. Sometimes she doesn't eat and is depressed, and she has very strict rules for the girls. Justine has started a notebook to keep track of when her father doesn't follow the recommendations for what the two eat, what activities they do, and whether or not they follow safety procedures like wearing seatbelts. They do like the stability of the mother's, and the fun of their father's. He has his daughter from another marriage, Marry, living with his sometimes, and Justine especially loves to be with her sister. When he adopts a cat from a shelter, the girls are glad to visit their father and Sheldon, their new one eyed cat. They are also interested in spending time with their French grandmother, who has come to live with their father. Things take an unfortunate when Sheldon gets out of the house and runs across the street, and Bea follows. She's just four, so while she knows the rules, doesn't always remember them. Her father grabs her roughly to stop her from going into the street. When Justine realizes what has happened, she thinks that if she reports about this in a bad way, her mother will be happier. Of course, this also means that their father will lose custody, but Justine seems unconcerned about that, although she loves her father. When she tells her mother, the girls are assigned their own lawyer, who walks them through their experience at their father's. Eventually, they are no longer allowed to visit him at home, but must have a supervised visit. When the process drags on, the mother decides to take a better job in a different city, knowing that this will speed up the proceedings. Justine realizes that she could be further estranged from her father, Marry, and her grandmother if her mother is allowed to take them. Will she be able to tell the judge the truth about her situation?
Strengths: There are a lot of books that deal with the grieving process when a parent dies, but oddly few dealing with how children deal with divorce. It can be very complicated, and moving between households can be stressful. I liked how there were some positive things, and that Justine had a good relationship with her sister Marry and grandmother. It was also interesting to see part of the legal process involving custody, from Justine's perspective. There was even a little bit of friend drama. An author's note at the back explains the phenomenon of Parental Alienation Syndrome, which explains why Justine was fighting for her mother even though she loved her father.
Weaknesses: It was a bit confusing to see Justine sabotage her father. I wish there had been more specific examples of her mother manipulating her, or that Justine had been shown thinking about what she was doing to her father and their relationship
What I really think: This was a bit more of an elementary school book because of the large amount of time spent with the parents. Middle school stories spend a lot more time with children distancing themselves of spending time on their own. Include this with other books involving children's experiences of divorce, including Payne's The Thing About Leftovers, Burt's The 12 Dares of Christa, Carr's 365 Days to Alaska, Murphy's Dear Sweet Pea, Mackler's Not if I Can Help It, Youngblood's Love Like Sky, Burke's An Occasionally Happy Family, and Draper's Blended. Interesting note: there seem to be a disproportionate number of books about divorce with girls as the main characters. Burke's title is the exception.
March 15, 2022
A bit more on the challenging side of things, this MG book explores the very serious and hard side of divorce and its effects on children. While this story is needed, it's not a very fun book to read. It's hard to read and see the reality of the effects of divorce on children in this book at times.
Of course, it's difficult to read about the hard truths about divorce and its effects on everyone in this book, but especially on the kids. This is written from the perspective of the 12 yr old daughter of divorced parents. Justine and her little sister, Bea, have to go back and forth between her Mom and Dad's places as they live with her Mom and their Dad gets them every Wednesday night and 2nd weekend of each month. Justine's mom has very serious anxiety and has to take medication for it. Justine's mom's anxiety also manifests as a need for control and she feels that their father and older half-sister are not good for Justine and Bea so she enlists Justine to get evidence so that she can have sole custody of Justine and Bea. Justine, of course, wants to have her mother's approval, and such so she writes notes about her Dad's unfit parenting behaviors and so forth until something happens and she creates a serious and outright lie for her mother's case, and then she begins to question herself and her mother and their behavior.
Justine has to learn how to deal with the complicated relationships and family dynamics with the divorce. Then ultimately she has to learn how to get up the nerve, to tell the truth after she created the lie no matter what the consequences may be.
This is enlightening, depressing/saddening and heart-wrenching to read and see the serious side of the negative effects of divorce and these types of situations on children. It's necessary and good for kids to see and read this especially if they're going through this type of thing so they can see they're not alone. It's also good for parents to see this and realize how their actions and words etc can affect their children in this type of scenario as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and OwlKids Books/OwlKids for letting me read and review this thought-provoking and heartfelt read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Of course, it's difficult to read about the hard truths about divorce and its effects on everyone in this book, but especially on the kids. This is written from the perspective of the 12 yr old daughter of divorced parents. Justine and her little sister, Bea, have to go back and forth between her Mom and Dad's places as they live with her Mom and their Dad gets them every Wednesday night and 2nd weekend of each month. Justine's mom has very serious anxiety and has to take medication for it. Justine's mom's anxiety also manifests as a need for control and she feels that their father and older half-sister are not good for Justine and Bea so she enlists Justine to get evidence so that she can have sole custody of Justine and Bea. Justine, of course, wants to have her mother's approval, and such so she writes notes about her Dad's unfit parenting behaviors and so forth until something happens and she creates a serious and outright lie for her mother's case, and then she begins to question herself and her mother and their behavior.
Justine has to learn how to deal with the complicated relationships and family dynamics with the divorce. Then ultimately she has to learn how to get up the nerve, to tell the truth after she created the lie no matter what the consequences may be.
This is enlightening, depressing/saddening and heart-wrenching to read and see the serious side of the negative effects of divorce and these types of situations on children. It's necessary and good for kids to see and read this especially if they're going through this type of thing so they can see they're not alone. It's also good for parents to see this and realize how their actions and words etc can affect their children in this type of scenario as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and OwlKids Books/OwlKids for letting me read and review this thought-provoking and heartfelt read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 10, 2022
For the Record has themes and topics that are very important to discuss. The story follows Justine after the divorce of her parents who takes down notes every time her father does something deemed wrong. This gives her mother an advantage to demand sole custody of Justine. This book is supposed to cover parental alienation, which it does very well. However, my issue is the lack of consequences and the neatness of the ending. There are signs of parentification, and the mother is very manipulative and has a lot that she herself needs to work through. We are also just told that the father is a bad parent but are never really shown why. And that might be part of the point, but I wanted to know more about the relationship he had with Justine beyond the manipulation that Justine's mother showed. I would also think that Justine's lies, and notes would have negatively impacted her relationship with her father. Justine's mother also didn't really seem to experience any consequences for how she treated and used Justine. I overall just wanted to see more from what was going on and more details and buildup between events.
I would like to thank Owlkids Books for providing me with an ARC.
I would like to thank Owlkids Books for providing me with an ARC.
February 9, 2022
This is a difficult book to review. Justine's parents are divorced and are now trying to fight for custody. Her mom wants sole custody, and the stress is taking its toll on her. Justine wants to help her mom, so she starts taking notes on what her dad does "wrong" (rather things that her mother says are wrong). This culminates in an accusation of abuse against her father.
This book offered a realistic look into parental alienation, a very real reality for many parents. However, with the focus being so much on that, many other red flags fall through the cracks. The reader is told over and over again about how Justine's dad is not a good parent, but nothing is said about her mother, even though the emotional abuse and parentification is evident. There is no resolution or consequence to Justine telling such an egregious lie (that she knew was harmful). I spent the entire book questioning if she even cared for her dad. She cared more about not seeing her older sister than her dad. Perhaps my history gives me a different perspective on this book, but it lacked balance.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
This book offered a realistic look into parental alienation, a very real reality for many parents. However, with the focus being so much on that, many other red flags fall through the cracks. The reader is told over and over again about how Justine's dad is not a good parent, but nothing is said about her mother, even though the emotional abuse and parentification is evident. There is no resolution or consequence to Justine telling such an egregious lie (that she knew was harmful). I spent the entire book questioning if she even cared for her dad. She cared more about not seeing her older sister than her dad. Perhaps my history gives me a different perspective on this book, but it lacked balance.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
April 18, 2022
Justine and her younger sister Bea split their time between their recently divorced mother and father. Their mom and dad’s parenting styles couldn’t be any more different. Their anxious mom runs a tight ship, while their dad is much more relaxed. Justine’s mom makes it clear that she thinks that Justine’s dad and her older half-sister are bad influences on Justine and Bea. Justine takes this as a cue and uses a notebook to document her father’s parenting missteps, thinking that if her mom has full custody of the sisters, her mother’s anxiety will ease, and she will feel better. After an incident with little sister Bea is turned into a lie about physical abuse, things escalate to involve lawyers and a judge in family court. Justine begins to question if what she has done is the right choice. This was a difficult book to read, but one that may be helpful for children dealing with similar issues. The author paints a realistic picture of the messiness of divorce and custody issues that many children experience. Told from the perspective of twelve-year-old Justine, her voice will capture readers as they follow her journey and see her reflect on her place in her parents’ conflict.
April 4, 2022
E ARC received from NetGalley
This is a really hard book to review. Honestly, it was a hard book to read. Justine is a 12 year old girl struggling with her parents messy divorce. Her mother suffers from anxiety that manifests as the need to control everything and when she files for sole custody, Justine begins to document any signs of “negligence” that might work in her mom’s favor. But it isn’t one sided. Justine realizes that her father does a lot of things right. Some bad choices are made and some others who love her lend their support, Justine starts to realize the toxicity of her parents’ relationship. Justine has to be a child and be true to herself in order for everyone to find a solution.
While this is an important topic, it isn’t a book that I enjoyed reading. That isn’t to say that a kid going through something like this wouldn’t, it is just hard to set that aside. There were also many times, especially in the first half, where it felt like it was dragging.
This is a really hard book to review. Honestly, it was a hard book to read. Justine is a 12 year old girl struggling with her parents messy divorce. Her mother suffers from anxiety that manifests as the need to control everything and when she files for sole custody, Justine begins to document any signs of “negligence” that might work in her mom’s favor. But it isn’t one sided. Justine realizes that her father does a lot of things right. Some bad choices are made and some others who love her lend their support, Justine starts to realize the toxicity of her parents’ relationship. Justine has to be a child and be true to herself in order for everyone to find a solution.
While this is an important topic, it isn’t a book that I enjoyed reading. That isn’t to say that a kid going through something like this wouldn’t, it is just hard to set that aside. There were also many times, especially in the first half, where it felt like it was dragging.
December 12, 2021
This is the story of a young girl that feels that she has to gather evidence so her mother can get soul custody of her and her 4 year old sister. She figures she has to go this, so that her mother wil feel better, and stop getting migraines, and stop yelling at her. She writes down everything wrong her father does, but none of the things wrong that her mother does, because, she only wants to help her mother win.
Justine knows that she is stretching the truth, but thinks it is the only thing she can do.
The author based this story on a lot of family cases that her sister had seen go through the family courts, and writes it from Justine's point of view.
Tear jerking at times. Good story, though.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Justine knows that she is stretching the truth, but thinks it is the only thing she can do.
The author based this story on a lot of family cases that her sister had seen go through the family courts, and writes it from Justine's point of view.
Tear jerking at times. Good story, though.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
May 29, 2022
This book touched the surface of parental alienation as it pertains to divorce and child custody. While kids are and should be protected from the legalities of child custody battles, they are sometimes in the forefront of being manipulated by one or both parents, which affects legal action, often including supervised visits, and lengthy court battles.
Books like this are definitely needed by children and their parents, especially for those involved in these circumstances. But this book had a too-tidy ending, when in actuality, these court cases can drag on for years. Justice isn't served for those children in these situations, and the toll on the mental health of these children is enormous.
Books like this are definitely needed by children and their parents, especially for those involved in these circumstances. But this book had a too-tidy ending, when in actuality, these court cases can drag on for years. Justice isn't served for those children in these situations, and the toll on the mental health of these children is enormous.
February 22, 2022
What a sad, powerful story. My heart breaks for kids like Justine and Bea who feel caught between their parents. I would have loved to hear what happens next -- do other adults step in to make sure that the girls are safe? As a grown-up child with a similarly toxic parent, I know there are ebbs and flows of "good" behavior, and it's quite likely their mother will revert to similar patterns unless she receives help.
I really appreciate the resources included in the back of the book. Hopefully, lots of families are helped by For the Record.
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
I really appreciate the resources included in the back of the book. Hopefully, lots of families are helped by For the Record.
(I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
March 4, 2022
I was drawn to this book after hearing the author speak about parental alienation. Since that is something with which I have some experience, the book was somewhat painful, as expected. It was painful watching Justine being manipulated by her mother which her father suffered the consequences, and it was painful seeing Justine feeling so torn between her parents. But I could still appreciate the story and its importance. Where things fell apart for me a bit was at the end and the much too neat resolution to the problems. Still, a story that is needed and will resonate with students.
March 23, 2022
Another title that I understand why it needed to be written and why it's important but boy did I hate every minute of this book. Parental abuse in all forms has always been a squick of mine. And for this title to be so heavy on it and so emotionally manipulative was so hard and so anxiety inducing to read. I blazed through the last hundred pages in an anxiety-mess. This is very much a "special episode" piece and I honestly don't know if I'd give this one to kids so much as I'd throw a copy at a parent.
December 13, 2025
This novel focuses on parental alienation, where one parent's words and actions turn a child against the other parent, even prompting them to lie or leave out important details in recounting incidents during a custody battle. Told in first-person, present tense, the narrative voice of 12-year-old Justine reveals her inner struggles with great acuity. The depth of Monique Polak's characters is profound and commendable. Four-year-old sister, Bea, one-eyed cat, Sheldon, and mom's friend Darlene all make me want to hug them! The characters and the story will linger long after reading. Masterful!
March 7, 2022
For the Record was a thought provoking middle grade book about a child's experience with divorce. I had never heard the term parental alienation, but it is a fitting descriptor of what Justine goes through throughout the story. I am a child of divorce, though my experience was quite a bit less traumatizing. This is a well written story that I think could be helpful to a lot of children who have gone through similar circumstances.
April 11, 2022
I received a digital ARC and was captivated early on with the characters in the book. Recommend for middle grade and up. Monique opened my eyes to a truly perplexing situation with families dealing with custody battles. Polak brought to light the reality while including opportunities to see solutions and seek assistance. An emotional story with some humor to balance your heart strings being tugged at. A good book to expand awareness.
May 17, 2024
Full Disclosure, this was a DNF for me. By the half way point I just couldn't stand it anymore. I don't agree with pinning kids against the opposing parent in divorce and that's what this whole book was about. It was just full of unhealthy behaviors and I'd never wish my own children to read this book. Kids need books that encourage them, with characters they can look up to, and worlds they dream of - this book had none of that.
February 20, 2022
Thank you to the Owlkids Books and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this great book. This is a story about a family going through a divorce and custody battle told from a perspective of the 12-year-old protagonist. Very realistic depiction of the custody battle and the legal system. Well-written, relevant, relatable story.
December 20, 2021
This book makes my heart hurt for all of the children out there experiencing this with their parents. I’m glad this book will be there to help them feel seen and hopefully be able to find their way through the challenges.
March 29, 2022
A fascinating look at parental alienation and the exploration of divorce in a MG book. I found the narrator charming and it was easy to cheer for her and her sister. I also liked the setting in Montreal!
January 18, 2022
This was a great book. A quick read. It ended sort of abruptly, but perhaps that was to emphasize how abrupt it all would have felt for the characters.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews