A memoir that pulls back the curtain on living with crippling social fear. By throwing herself into the supportive, chaotic world of comedy classes, Alex learns to manage her internal prisons and rebuild her self-worth.
Button Pusher is a phenomenal, memoir that provides a vital window into growing up with ADHD. Combining personal vulnerability with authentic medical insights and striking artwork, this realistic narrative addresses neurodiversity, family trauma, and self-advocacy with incredible nuance.
Lolo’s Light is a poignant, unforgettable middle-grade novel that navigates the messy, complicated layers of grief and unfair guilt. When a babysitting job turns into an unexpected tragedy, young Millie must find her way out of the dark. Masterfully written and deeply empathetic, this text is an essential, healing addition for middle school library collections, book clubs, and social-emotional learning spaces.
Tired of harmful Hollywood clichés about Dissociative Identity Disorder? Stephanie Kenific reviews Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin, a masterfully written, empathetic YA thriller. Follow eighteen-year-old Dylan as she navigates a life-changing diagnosis and uncovers a buried past. Fast-paced and deeply sensitive, this compelling page-turner reframes trauma survival with profound dignity, making it an essential, high-value addition for high school libraries and mature young adult readers.
Justice from the shadows vs. truth in the light. While high school sophomore Mafi dishes out anonymous, vigilante justice for bullied classmates as “The Ghost,” her family’s real-world crisis in Afghanistan forces her into a high-stakes public spotlight—prompting a complex look at international media activism and the danger of single-narrative history.