Young Adult Fiction: Coming of Age

Breaking Free: A Tale of Growth and Change is a powerful young adult coming-of-age novel about courage, creativity, and choosing an unexpected path. When sixteen-year-old Cass Whitaker secretly enrolls in a metal arts class, sparks fly-literally and emotionally. Torn between perfection and passion, expectations and truth, Cass must decide who she's living for. Set in a windswept Colorado town, this story celebrates imperfection, self-discovery, and the bravery it takes to change direction. Perfect for readers who love heartfelt journeys of growth, identity, and finding freedom in being real. Eliza explores family economics, quiet bravery, and the pressure to be perfect. Trained in cognitive science, she writes about working-class resilience, after-school jobs, and friends who hold the rope when plans crack. Her stories favor honest tries, earned hope, and endings that feel like open doors.