Sparks

Reach for this book when your child is feeling the weight of a label, whether it is a learning disability, a special education placement, or just the fear of not being normal enough. It is an ideal choice for the middle-grade student who feels like they are hiding a secret about how their brain works or who is navigating the high stakes of a new social environment. Sparks follows Todd, a boy transitioning from a special education class back into a regular fifth grade classroom. He is terrified of being discovered as different and works hard to keep his sparks of intelligence from being extinguished by his own anxiety. The story is deeply empathetic and balanced with humor, making it a supportive read for children aged 8 to 12. It normalizes the struggle of self-acceptance while offering a realistic look at the courage it takes to just be yourself in the face of peer pressure.