Do Not Pass Go

When a father's addiction leads to incarceration, a teenage boy must navigate the shame and confusion of having a parent behind bars. Deet's world shatters when his dad is arrested for using pills to manage his exhausting work schedule, forcing the family into financial instability and social judgment. The novel explores the complex emotions of anger, betrayal, and fear that consume Deet as he confronts this new reality, particularly the stigma he faces from classmates who now see his family differently.

Hill handles this difficult subject with remarkable nuance, refusing to simplify addiction into mere villainy while honestly portraying its devastating consequences. The story's strength lies in its realistic depiction of how poverty and overwork can create impossible choices, making Deet's father a sympathetic yet flawed figure. Readers experiencing similar family situations will find validation in Deet's journey from resentment toward reluctant understanding, offering a compassionate look at the human cost of the justice system.