The stepsibling who barely talks might be waiting for a question that isn’t about the divorce.

When a family rearranges, nearly every conversation a kid gets handed is about the rearranging: how are you doing, how is the new house, is it strange. That is a lot of being studied. Going quiet is often a way of declining the subject rather than the person asking.

Lead with whatever they are into. Ask what they are watching, what the song is, whether their team is any good this year. If it does not land the first time, leave the door open and let them pick the moment.