Heidi's brother, Donald, is 16 and Autistic. She has always loved playing with him, but now she's 11 and her life is changing. She's embarrassed to have her brother around and tries not to tell anyone about him. High school boys bully him. When the kids at her school find out about him, she gets bullied too.
It's not fair. No one seems to understand.
But Heidi needs to understand too. She can't change her brother, but she can change how she feels about him, and she can get people to see why her brother is special.
Winner of the 2017 Literary Classics Seal of Approval, 2017 Human Relations Indie Book Awards - Gold Medal for Special Needs Awareness, 2017 Literary Classics - Silver Medal for Preteen Fiction, 2017 Purple Dragonfly Children's Book Award for Special Needs Awareness.
About the Author :
D. G. Driver is an award-winning author of Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction and member of SCBWI. Her other books include Purple Dragonfly Children's Book Award winner Cry of the Sea, Whisper of the Woods, Echo of the Cliffs and Passing Notes. She also has short fiction in a number of anthologies and some nonfiction published under the name Donna Getzinger. She lives near Nashville and is a teacher in an inclusive classroom of typically developing and special needs children in an Early Intervention program. When she's not writing or teaching, she might be found singing and acting in a local community theater musical with members of her talented family. Learn more about her at: www.dgdriver.com
Review :
"Beautifully tells a story about how one girl learns to balance a complex situation at home with a complex situation at school... Adults who remember reading books by Katherine Patterson and Paula Danziger will recognize the honesty with which it is written." Kids Book Weekly
"While this is a middle grade book, I think parents should read this book. It's a great way to discuss being kind to friends and their family members. Autism, as well as other special needs should not be seen as "problems", but as people who can grow our hearts with compassion, empathy and FRIENDSHIP." Book Mama Reviews
"This is the best story about dealing with bullies and with a child with Autism I have ever read." Quill, Ink and Parchment Review
"This is an important novel that is as much about anti-bullying as it is about autism awareness. I hope schools and educators discover this story and encourage their classes to read it and discuss its relevant themes. It makes a perfect read for National Anti-bullying Day held each October. I am sure many middle grade children would benefit from Heidi's story." Lavender Inspiration Reviews
"All children need to read this book to learn about situations children in families with disabled children face each and every day. They also need to learn how to relate to these challenged individuals as feeling persons, not to pity them, but to understand, so they are not afraid. The situations in the book are realistic, the feelings genuine, and the outcome extremely reasonable. It is a short book and would make a great classroom project. I highly recommend it." Monday Morning Indie Reviews
"An engaging read that is recommended for home and school libraries and for use in clinical settings." Literature Classics review
