Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat

Reach for this book when your child expresses feeling like an outsider or is struggling with the quiet pressure of school social dynamics. It is an ideal choice for the child who feels misunderstood or carries a private worry they are not yet ready to share. Six very different middle schoolers, each guarding their own secret, find themselves thrown together in a cramped broom closet during a school lockdown drill. Guided by the presence of a mysterious stuffed cat, these unlikely allies move from guarded silence to profound vulnerability. Gary Paulsen masterfully explores themes of loneliness, empathy, and the hidden lives of children. The story is perfectly paced for readers aged 8 to 12, offering a safe space to process the anxiety of 'fitting in.' Parents will appreciate how it humanizes the 'labels' children often give one another, replacing judgment with genuine connection. It is a comforting reminder that even in our loneliest moments, we are rarely as alone as we feel.