Mental Health – Unleashing Readers

Educators’ Guide for The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter by Barbara Carroll Roberts

August 12, 2026 by Kellee

The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter
Author: Barbara Carroll Roberts
Published: July 22nd, 2025 by Margaret Ferguson Books

Summary: Bunny Baxter thinks nothing could be worse than starting seventh grade at a school where she knows no one. But after her first day, she realizes things can actually get much worse.

If Bunny Baxter were an insect, she’d have so many ways to slip through seventh grade unnoticed. But she’s tall instead of tiny, has flaming red Medusa hair instead of camouflage, and she suffers from social anxiety, which makes it hard to be part of a swarm. Worst of all, she’s been redistricted to a new middle school away from her best friend who she could always hide behind when her anxiety got the best of her.

The first day at E.D. Britt Middle School does not go well. Bunny trips on the steps, falls into the cutest boy in the school, and causes a kid domino pile-up. At lunch, she unintentionally causes an uproar in the cafeteria, which lands her and another girl in the principal’s office. Bunny decides there is only one option: to get expelled so she can transfer to the school her best friend attends.

She soon discovers that it isn’t that hard to get in trouble—don’t turn in your homework, walk around the track instead of run in P.E., pretend you deliberately hit someone with a badminton birdie. What isn’t so easy for Bunny is realizing she now has a reputation as a troublemaker. And even more confusing, when it looks like her plan to get expelled might work, she’s no longer sure what to do.

The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter is a heartfelt coming of age story about an insect-loving girl who is learning to grow into herself—quirks and all.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions:

Please view and enjoy the educators’ guide I created for the author:

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

You can learn more about The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter on its page on Barbara Carroll Roberts’s website.

Recommended For:

Student Voices: The Power of Books from Mina Y. and Mily R.

July 31, 2026 by Kellee

The Power of Books

“Books vs. Movies” by Mina Y., 7th grade

The long-time debate is movies vs. books: which one is better? Many people say books are better because they include more details, while others say movies are better because you can actually see what is happening. Both books and movies have good and bad sides, but books usually have more advantages. Books can show characters thoughts, emotions, and backstories, while movies sometimes skip those things to save time. Here are some examples of books that are better than the movies.

1: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief book is better than the movie because it shows Percy’s personality and humor through his thoughts and narration. Like when Percy demonstrates his intense loyalty and protective nature by choosing to send Medusa’s head to Olympus rather than keeping it, specifically to ensure his mother is freed from Gabe, a plot point that is completely absent from the movie. The story also includes more details about Greek mythology and the adventures Percy and his friends go through. The movie removes many jokes and important parts of the story. Because of that, the book feels more complete and exciting.

2: Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters book is better than the movie because it explains the adventure in much more detail and stays closer to the original story. In the book, it demonstrates his intense loyalty and protective nature by secretly taking Tyson on the quest, even defying Chiron’s orders, a deeper emotional connection not fully portrayed in the movie. Readers learn more about the characters and the Greek myths connected to the plot. The movie changes several parts of the story and leaves out important scenes, which makes it feel less exciting and funny than the book. When you read the book, you can imagine the world the way the author described it, but the movie feels more rushed and different.

3: Holes by Louis Sachar
The Holes book is better than the movie because it explains the characters’ thoughts and backstories more clearly. This helps readers understand the story’s mystery and connections. The book also gives more details about the setting and the events that happen at Camp Green Lake. While the movie shows the main parts of the story, it misses some of the deeper emotions and clever storytelling in the book. Stanley’s deep insecurity and struggle with his weight are prominently shown through his initial inability to defend himself against bullying by a much smaller kid, Derrick Dunne, that makes the book so interesting.

4: Wonder by R. J. Palacio
The Wonder Book is better than the movie because it tells the story from different characters’ points of view. In the book, Auggie jokes that if he were born in medieval times, he would have been roasted on a spit, showcasing his sharp, defensive humor that isn’t in the movie. This helps readers understand how each character feels and what they are going through. The book also shares Auggie’s thoughts and challenges in a deeper way, which helps readers connect with him. The movie shows the main events, but it leaves out some details and emotions that make the book so meaningful and inspiring.

5: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid book is better than the movie because it shows Greg’s funny thoughts in his diary entries. In the book, Greg often treats Rowley more like a project to be managed for his own personal gain, including having Rowley carry his backpack, which contrasts with the movie,ff where they often appear as more equal friends. The drawings and writing style make the story feel more personal and entertaining. Readers get to see Greg’s awkward and hilarious moments exactly how the author wrote them. The movie is still funny, but it leaves out some jokes and small details that make the book more fun to read.

6: The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Giver book is better than the movie because it shows Jonas’s thoughts and emotions more clearly. In the book, readers learn more about the rules of the society and how everything works in that world. It also explains the themes of freedom and choice in a deeper way. The movie shows the main events, but it misses some of the ideas and emotions that make the book so powerful. When Jonas accidentally hoards an apple, he immediately feels deep remorse and apologizes to his community, rather than challenging the rules as he does in the film.

7: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games book is better than the movie because it shows Katniss’s thoughts and feelings throughout the story. Readers get to understand her fears, choices, and struggles more clearly. The book also gives more background about the world and the other characters in the book. When Peeta admits his crush during the first interview, book-Katniss is furious and pushes him into a vase in the heat of the moment, whereas the movie plays this moment much more calmly, making her seem colder and more manipulative in the text. The movie has exciting action scenes, but it cannot show all the emotions and themes that the book explores.

8: Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
The Harry Potter books are better than the movies because they include much more detail about the magical world and the characters. Readers get to learn more about the friendships, challenges, and mysteries in the story.in The books In Order of the Phoenix, while being interviewed by Rita Skeeter, book Harry shows his rebellious side by quibbling with her and displaying a fiery temperament that contrasts with the often quiet, also explores deeper themes about bravery and growing up. The movies show many important moments, but they cannot include all the details and emotions that make the books so memorable.

In conclusion, while movies can be exciting and entertaining, books usually tell the story in a deeper and more detailed way. Books allow readers to understand the characters, thoughts, emotions, and backgrounds better than movies can. Many movies also remove or change important parts of the story because of time limits. Because of this, books often give readers a richer and more complete experience than movies.

“Hyperactivity, Reading, and Literacy” by Mily R., 7th grade

Hyperactivity can make everything harder, even reading. Although people may like books, hyperactivity can really put a strain on their reading. Sometimes not being able to sit still, or not being able to focus on the words can really make that difference. With this, it makes people with hyper activity prefer to read shorter chapters or quicker paced stories.

Some things that can happen are that they lose focus or they might have to re-read parts that they missed the first time, and it can bring frustration and anger which does not let the reader enjoy the book. Although other times they can hyperfocus that means that they can get really intrigued into a book and read big chunks at a time without losing focus because the book has captured their attention.

Over time reading is good with making good concentration and keeping their attention centered on the book. Having good concentration also helps with school work and a lot of other things. So some books that help grab attention are usually graphic novels and mangas because the type of story telling and illustrations help keep the readers attention on the book instead of having it jump the focus on something else. Next, audio books also help because the reader does not have to stress about the struggle of skipping a word or missing a line because it is simply being played in the reader’s ear. Also they can listen to the book while they do something else like cleaning or cooking because it helps boost their concentration by giving them something else to focus on so their attention spam lasts longer

Last off is most people find ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and hyperactivity as the same thing when it’s not. The biggest difference is hyper activity is just hyper activity and adhd attention deficit hyper activity which focuses more on the lost atention. Although they can have a lot of the same skills they are not exactly the same. But if you need to, most of the time you can use helping tips from adhd on hyper activity.

So after all of this, just because you have hyper activity doesn’t mean you can’t read. And I know that it’s gonna be hard, but hopefully you can take some tips and be able to better understand this condition. Now let’s take this as a sign to continue reading.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at books and reading in their life and the world!

Student Voices: Understanding Depression & Books About Mental Health from Maya D. and Tatiana S.

August 13, 2025 by Kellee

Understanding Depression & Books About Mental Health

**Trigger Warning: This post has discussions of depression, mental health, and suicide though also looks at how to find help**

“Understanding Depression” by Maya D., 7th grade

men·tal health
Noun
A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.

de·pres·sion
Noun
Feelings of severe despondency and dejection.

Understanding Depression

Depression is a persistent feeling of sadness, loss of interest and loss of pleasure in activities. This feeling continues for many days and heavily interferes with a person’s quality of life.

Depression can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, status and education. It’s the most common mental illness in the US. Depression can be caused by a wide variety of things like genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

According to National Institute of Mental Health symptoms include:

Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of irritability, frustration‚ or restlessness
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
Fatigue, lack of energy, or feeling slowed down
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Difficulty sleeping, waking too early in the morning, or oversleeping
Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes
Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not go away with treatment
Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

According to National Institute of Mental Health effects on mood include:

Increased anger or irritability
Feeling restless or on edge
Becoming withdrawn, negative, or detached
Increased engagement in high-risk activities
Greater impulsivity
Isolating from family and friends
Inability to meet responsibilities or ignoring other important roles

Not everyone might experience the same symptoms, and varying amounts of symptoms in varying degrees.

Depression is different for everyone but there are main two types:

Major Depression

Loss of interest, depressed mood, lasts for around two weeks.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Symptoms of depression are less intense and last longer for at least two years.

It’s highly recommended to talk to a health care provider if symptoms persist.

What Can I Do to Help Myself?

Generally treatment is the best option. But some things you can do to help manage according to National Institute of Mental Health are:

Try to get physical activity. Just 30 minutes a day of walking can boost your mood.
Try to maintain a regular bedtime and wake-up time.
Eat regular, healthy meals.
Do what you can as you can. Decide what must get done and what can wait.
Connect with people. Talk to people you trust about how you are feeling.
Delay making important life decisions until you feel better. Discuss decisions with people who know you well.
Avoid using alcohol, nicotine, or drugs, including medications not prescribed for you.

Many things affect one’s mental health most importantly, it is from biological and psychological factors but it can also be from social factors including, but not limited to, sleep, diet, relationships, age and beliefs. Did you know the seasons of the world can have a huge sway on mental health and increase risk of depression? This phenomenon is called S.A.D. or Seasonal Affective Disorder. This type of depression is not considered clinical.

Summertime Sadness

-While not as common as Winter Depression, Summertime is increasingly common for students to experience feelings of hopelessness.The heat and humidity can feel never ending and oppressive. This causes some people to isolate themselves and stay in air conditioning. This can also lead to excessive use of social media, lack of movement and may develop unhealthy eating habits.

-The isolation is well…isolation. This can lead to a lack of social interaction. Humans are social creatures and life can be a bit easier when you share a burden. Especially when school is out, people may not see their friends as often.

-A healthy body benefits the mind, your brain is a part of your body after all. Getting vitamin D and remaining active is great for boosting your mood and self-security.

During summer there’s much emphasis on people’s bodies. Stores sell thinner clothes with less coverage, swimsuits are marketed very often. All this focus on looks inevitably leads to insecurity. -The lack of social affirmations can worsen insecurity.

-When you’re in school you establish a routine. Then suddenly schools out. The grounding security of a routine is disrupted. For many this can be the trigger of a depressive episode. Not having something to wake up for everyday can be unmotivating.

-Summer is a great time to host events, attend festivals and go shopping for the new summer items. Your time in this season may not be as enjoyable when you miss out on activities because your wallet cant afford it. This leads to increased feelings of FOMO and may also contribute to not being able to hangout with those you value.

Tips to Combat Summertime Sadness

Remember it’s okay to struggle. We’re all human and go through things. Take small steps if you have to. Nothing will change unless you at least try.

Make efforts to stay social, call up that friend you haven’t seen in a while, go out with your family, join a club.
Spend time outside. Take a walk, bring a hat or sunscreen maybe. Go for a jog. Head to the park. Read outside. Play sports.
Take care of your body. Eat at least one fruit a day. Snack on a salad. STAY HYDRATED!!! Maintain your hygiene.
Establish a routine and give yourself something to look forward to.

Be patient with yourself, it’s easier said than done.

“Books About Mental Health” by Tatiana S., 8th grade

Most times when people think of children and teens, they’ll think about an always happy, energetic, loud group of people. This isn’t always the case, however. As our young group gets older, they experience new challenges that may be hard to overcome. This can cause anxiety, eating disorders, and sometimes, even depression. There are many books out there that talk about this, but some of them don’t put it into the perspective of a child. I’ve read these 3 amazing books that have taught me what it’s like for someone around my age to experience these mental health issues. I hope you try them out and learn something new!

Delicates by Brenna Thummler

This book was extremely good at displaying what it’s like to be an outsider. Unlike the 1st book, Sheets, where we follow the main protagonist, Marjorie Glatt, we now follow a character who was just hiding in the shadows. Eliza Duncan is odd. She has no friends, was held back a grade, and likes to photograph potential ghosts. She’s the perfect target for bullies. The bullying really messed with her mental health. She fell into depression, barely ever wanting to leave her room, not interacting with her family. It even got to the point where she didn’t want to do what she loves most. It didn’t get better, either. She had thoughts of self-harm. To see an adolescent go through all of this was truly heartbreaking, but also eye-opening. It allowed me to see what bullying does to someone and see how these mental illnesses affect someone’s day to day life.

Just Roll with It by Veronica Agarwal

This book was great. We follow a young Maggie, who’s starting middle school. When I first read the book, I was confused. I didn’t understand why she continuously needed to roll a dice to determine her next move or why she had to flip a lightswitch a specific number of times. As the book continued, I saw that she had OCD and anxiety. However, Maggie didn’t. Her family guided her down the right path to therapy and she was able to learn about what she was dealing with. It was interesting to see how she learned more about herself and these illnesses and how she persevered through them. To have a supportive family or group of people like that is such a good thing to have when struggling with something like that.

Sink or Swim by Veronica Agarwal

This is the 2nd book to Just Roll with It and I truly loved this one. Instead of Maggie, we follow Ty, a swimmer who recently recovered from an arm injury. It was clear to see from the beginning that Ty was struggling with anxiety. The book was great at displaying this. It was as if Ty was fighting with himself or drowning in water. Because of his anxiety, he struggled to do what he loved most: swim. His friends helped him, however, and he got his spark back. I’m closest in age with Ty as he’s in 7th grade and seeing what anxiety was like for him was very relatable.

Thank you so much to my student voices today and their look at mental health and books that may help those struggling!

The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco

February 11, 2025 by Kellee

The Secret of Honeycake
Author: Kimberly Newton Fusco
Published January 21st, 2025 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary: Hurricane is quiet while her Aunt Clare is a force of nature with very particular ideas–and a host of Latin sayings to back them up. When Hurricane gets stuck living with her, she retreats into herself…until a series of unexpected friends, including a mangy cat, help her find her voice in a whole new way.

With a name like Hurricane, you’d think this girl would take the world by storm. But instead, she’s almost invisible. And when her sister gets tuberculosis, Hurricane is sent to live in the city with her Aunt Claire, an intimidating and disapproving presence surrounded by stodgy furniture and stodgier ideas. Like no dirty stray cats in the house. And certainly not as pets!

But Aunt Claire doesn’t know quite what she’s up against–Hurricane may be quiet, but she’s about to discover that she’s also strong. Before long a shy cat, a gentle chauffeur and a friendly boy (who may smell a little of fish) teach Hurricane to find her voice. And just maybe, Aunt Claire knows a thing or two she can teach Hurricane as well.

It turns out that that you don’t always have to be loud to be heard.

About the Author: Kimberly Newton Fusco is the acclaimed author of four other books for young readers: Chasing Augustus, Beholding Bee, The Wonder of Charlie Anne, and Tending to Grace, all of which received starred reviews and many accolades, including the Schneider Family Book Award. As a child, Kim was shy and stuttered and wanted to be a writer more than anything, and now she is! She was a national-award-winning education journalist before becoming a novelist. The mother of four grown children, she lives with her family, a lolloping golden retriever, and a very old cat in a house in rural Rhode Island surrounded by woods and fields where her pet sheep, Huck and Finn, graze.

Review: This cast of characters are one of my favorites in any book that I have ever read:

Hurricane is such a fantastic narrator. She may be quiet, but she has so much to say. Through the book, she finds her spoken voice with the help of others who show her that they love her no matter what.
Aunt Claire needs Hurricane as much as Hurricane needs her. Aunt Claire has so much to say, but through the book, she learns to listen which truly makes for a forever better Claire.
Mr. Keats shows us the trauma of war and the power of a kind heart. Mr. Keats is the barrier between Aunt Claire and Hurricane when they need it, but also a catalyst of so much of the change in the book.
Theo. Sweet Theo. He is Hurricane’s first true friend and just a special kid.
And, of course, the pets. They were obviously part of the family and the story would not have been the same without them. They both give comfort to all that need them which is so special.

On top of the characters, the story is quiet but shows us the world during the Great Depression and as women’s place in society was changing. Oh, it also makes me even more fascinated in reading John Green’s upcoming book about TB.

Discussion Questions:

How did Aunt Claire help Hurricane throughout the book? Mr. Keats? Theo? Which character do you think helped her be her true self the most?
How did Hurricane help Aunt Claire throughout the book? Mr. Keats? Theo? Which character do you think helped her be her true self the most?
How has women’s place in society different now than during The Secret of Honeycake?
How did Miss Witherspoon emotionally scar Hurricane? How could she have acted differently and changed how Hurricane felt about herself and school?
How does baking play a role in the book?
Mr. Keats suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. How does Aunt Claire support him and his mental health?
How does MoonPie affect the trajectory of the story?

Flagged Passages: This book had some amazing lines that I highlighted while reading:

“We’re like pieces of a puzzle that fit together because we’re different.” (Kindle Locations 170-171)
“Chin up, Mr. Keats,” my aunt says softly as the fire snaps. “We must keep stepping forward into the future meant for us…” (Kindle Location 1560)
“No one looks at a quiet person and says, ‘Wow, I want to be just like her.’ They always want to change you.” (Kindle Location 2122)
“I realize: I’m the one in charge of my attributes. I get to decide.” (Kindle Locations 2656-2657)
“When someone really understands you, it makes you feel less lonely, like light is passing through, and you’re more filled up than you were before.” (Kindle Locations 3053-3054)
“There’s a pain around my heart seeing it, which is what happens when you lose somebody. The heartache finds you again.” (Kindle Locations 3079-3080)
“Life is so beautiful, Mr. Keats,” my aunt says after a while. “More and more each day.” “We must keep marching forward.” “That’s a fact, ma’am. That’s a fact.” “Omnia vincit amor. Love conquers all.” “No truer words were ever said, ma’am.” (Kindle Locations 3270-3273)

You can also view an excerpt and listen to part of the audio on the Penguin Random House page for The Secret of Honeycake.

Read This If You Love: Middle grade historical fiction with strong female protagonists

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Blue Sky Media for providing a copy for review!**

Kaya of the Ocean by Gloria L. Huang

January 28, 2025 by Kellee

Kaya of the Ocean
Author: Gloria L. Huang
Published January 7th, 2025 by Holiday House

Summary: Anxious thirteen-year-old Kaya has always been afraid of everything—but when she learns she is the descendant of a Chinese water goddess, she’ll have to master herself to master her powers!

On the surface, thirteen-year-old Kaya leads a charmed life. She lives in beautiful, beachy Lihiwai. She has ride-or-die best friends. She’s ultrasmart and killing it at school. She even works with a super-cute boy at her parents’ restaurant.

But she also has anxiety—serious anxiety, the kind that makes you scratch and pick—and she’s always had bad luck around the ocean. It’s hard to enjoy Hawaiian beaches when you’ve almost drowned more than once.

But as stranger and stranger things happen to Kaya around the sea, she realizes that—wanted or not—she has a special connection to it. Waves rise when she’s angry. Surf smooths when she’s calm. Fish come when she calls them. And when she learns the truth about her family and her divine ancestor, Mazu, she knows that she will need to connect with her most difficult emotions ASAP—or her potent powers may become dangerous to the people she loves.

Kaya of the Ocean is an exciting, fresh, and beautiful middle-grade fantasy about embracing who you really are. This heartfelt adventure of sun, surf, and sand touches on mental health, the immigrant experience, and the complexities of growing up.

Praise: “This sweeping narrative will keep readers eager to learn what happens to Kaya, the child of Mandarin-speaking Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants, and her friends.” -Kirkus Reviews

“Huang explores one anxious tween’s relationship with the sea and her ancestry in this fantastical debut.” – Publishers Weekly

“Engaging…multi-layered…” – Bookworm for Kids

Indie Next Pick!
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
ALA’s Indies Introduce List spotlight debut

About the Author: Gloria L. Huang is a freelance writer. Her fiction has been accepted for publication in literary journals including Michigan Quarterly Review, The Threepenny Review, Chicago Quarterly Review, Witness Magazine, Massachusetts Review, Pleiades, Southern Humanities Review, Fiction Magazine, North American Review, Arts & Letters, Washington Square Review, The Chattahoochee Review, Gargoyle Magazine, Sycamore Review, and The Antigonish Review. She received her B.A. in English Literature from Stanford University.

Review: Kaya is a character that many readers will connect with: she struggles with meeting the expectations upon her, wants to be comfortable with who she is but also wants to fit in, and is trying to figure out herself while also just living her life. Her life is already a bit topsy-turvy when her cousin comes and visits and truly tips everything over and Kaya finds her mental health being negatively affected, and she feels like she has no one to go to. On top of that, she discovers she has some kind of magical powers which makes her feel even more disconnected from reality. Luckily for Kaya, the powers may be what can help her through this all.

In addition to the character development of Kaya and all that is affecting her, the author’s introduction to Chinese mythology will intrigue readers who are interested in world mythologies while also not ostracizing those who aren’t.

And oh, the setting is BEAUTIFUL and the author’s use of imagery takes the reader straight to Hawaii!

There is truly so much to talk about when it comes to this book: family, friendship, fears, anxiety, mythology, Hawaii, the ocean, and more!

Discussion Questions:

How does Kaya’s parents’ choice to not tell her about their past cause her to feel disconnected?
Why do you think Kaya’s parents choose not to talk about their past?
How did Anne’s visit effect Kaya’s mental health?
Although Anne was quite a terror at the beginning, do you think that Kaya dealt with the situation correctly?
How did Kaya’s parents’ response to Kaya’s anxiety lead to her feeling like she had to hide everything?
Do you think it was okay for Naomi and Iolana to lie to Kaya?
Why do you think that the author chose to flashback a few times in the book to Kaya’s ancestors?

Flagged Passage: Chapter One

Maui, 2024

Though I’ve never been able to prove it, I’m certain the ocean is trying to drown me.

My first memory of feeling this way is more like a dream— my mom’s screaming face distorted through a wavery, watery lens; wisps of fear, of shock. I think I was about three. Whenever I asked Mom about this memory, she furrowed her brow and claimed not to remember. “You’re always making things up. So much imagination.”

When I was seven, I was playing on the shore when a sneaker wave overwhelmed me. In a split second, it washed me and my toys partially out to sea. I remember that vividly— the shock of digging in the sand one moment and tumbling through the water the next. Luckily, my dad ran over the wet sand to fish me out, but I clearly remember the sensation of the water towing on my legs as though trying to pull me under. My bucket and spade were a casualty of that warm summer day. “They swim with the fishes,” my dad said afterward with a grin. I didn’t think his joke was very funny.

Now I was thirteen, with several years of intense swim lessons behind me. And I tried not to think about my grim childhood conviction that the ocean was somehow… calling me home.

I really tried not to think about the little girl I sometimes saw under the water, the one my parents called my “imaginary friend” until I was too old to have imaginary friends anymore. It was my policy not to look directly into the ocean, because I knew I might see her if I did: a small five-year-old child, her hair in messy pigtails and her eyes haunted and sad, always reaching for her white blanket.

It was bad enough I suffered from anxiety so severe that my skin was raw and red from washing and scratching, that my mind was always filled with worries and my heart filled with dread. The last thing I needed was another problem, another fear.

So even though I lived on an island surrounded by millions of cubic miles of water, I built a box in my mind for my hydrophobia, put it inside, and tried not to think about the sea at all.

Read This If You Love: Coyote Queen by Jessica Vitalis; Lola Reyes is So Not Worried by Cindy L. Rodriguez; The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla; The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Holiday House for providing a copy for review!**

Invisible Isabel by Sally J. Pla, Illustrated by Tania de Regil

July 9, 2024 by Kellee

Invisible Isabel
Author: Sally J. Pla
Illustrator: Tania de Regil
Published July 9th, 2024 by Quill Tree Books

Summary: In this illustrated middle grade novel by Schneider Award-winning author Sally J. Pla, introverted Isabel Beane learns how she can speak up to help quiet the worries she feels. For fans of Elana K. Arnold and Leslie Connor.

Isabel Beane is a shy girl who lives in a home full of havoc and hubbub and hullabaloo. With five siblings, there is too much too much-ness.

At the same time, there’s a new girl at school who is immediately popular, but she’s also not very nice to one person—Isabel.

Isabel has never felt more invisible. She has so many fears: being abandoned by her old friends at school, having to speak to strangers in public, taking the upcoming Extremely Important standardized test. Her fears feel like worry-moths that flutter in her belly. With every passing day, it seems like they get stronger and stronger. How can Invisible Isabel make people listen?

About the Author: Sally J. Pla is the ALA Schneider Award-winning author of THE FIRE, THE WATER, AND MAUDIE McGINN, as well as the Dolly Gray Award-winning THE SOMEDAY BIRDS and several other popular novels and picture books. Her books have starred reviews and appear on many state awards lists and “best books” roundups. Sally, who is neurodivergent, has appeared on television and radio as an author and autism advocate. She also runs the website resource A Novel Mind (anovelmind.com). Sally believes in kindness, respect, and the beauty of different brains. We are all stars shining with different lights! Visit her at www.sallyjpla.com.

Instagram: @sallyjpla
Twitter/X: @sallyjpla
Facebook: Sally Pla

Review: This book brought up a ton of emotions for me as a mom and as a teacher. I was so mad at so many of the characters that I had to stop, breathe, and I even sent a Tweet to the author. I could not understand how this sweet girl wasn’t understood by anyone around her, and all of these emotions I felt while reading shows you how the style and voice of the book just engulfed me as a reader. Because of the verse and first person point of view, every word written felt like it was precisely chosen to go straight to my heart. I loved Isabel’s voice because although she is so quiet outwardly, she has so much to say, and we, the reader, get the honor of reading her words.

This book adds another amazing story into narratives about neurodivergency, and I truly believe that it will help so many understand Isabel thus leading to more understanding in real life.

Tools for Navigation: The verse in this novel will lend itself so perfectly to mentor texts. I would love to see students read Isabel’s poetry about her worry moths then write their own versions or use her examples of figurative language in their own way.

Discussion Questions:

What were signs that Isabel struggled at home? At school?
How does Monica show that just one person can make a huge change? How about Monica’s dad?
What is the line between pushing someone to do something outside of their comfort zone in a health way versus in an unhealthy way?
Although Isabel’s stomach pains at one point ended up being appendicitis, did her anxiety also cause physical stomach pains? Why?
How did the change in teaching style change how Isabel felt at school?
How did the illustrations add to the book?
What did the backmatter teach us about anxiety/autism?

Flagged Passages: A Worry-Moths Compendium (pg. 21)

Many scary what-if worries made Isabel’s heart thump,
her tongue dry up,
her hands sweat,
and her stomach churn
with moths.
At least, they felt like moths.
Like buzzing, fluttering worry-moths
with evil, anxious wings.
Mam might not think they were real.
But they sure FELT real to Isabel.

Read This If You Love: Books-in-Verse, A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold, Better with Butter by Victoria Pointek, Tom Percival’s emotion picture books, Jenn Bailey’s Henry books

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Barbara at Blue Slip Media for providing a copy for review!**

Discussion Guide for Totally Psychic by Brigid Martin

July 2, 2024 by Kellee

Totally Psychic
Author: Brigid Martin
Published: August 15, 2023 by Inkyard Press

Summary: This debut middle grade series stars a Cuban-American tween medium navigating friends, family and ghosts!

Paloma Ferrer is psychic. In fact, everyone in her family line has “the gift.” Now that Paloma has come into her powers, she dreams of a famous medium to celebrities, being just like her beloved grandma.

When Paloma’s parents move them from Miami to Los Angeles, she hatches a plan to get her career as a medium up and running:

Host seances at her new school and stream on social media
Build her profile and make a name for herself
Avoid detection from her tattletale of a little sister

But when a reading gone awry leaves Paloma in a sticky situation with a new friend, she’ll need more than a crystal ball to find her way out of this mess.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions:

Please view and enjoy the discussion guide I created for Cake Creative Kitchen for Totally Psychic:

You can also access the educators’ guide here.

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