Focused

Clea is having trouble in school.  She blurts things out in class and struggles ot understand directions.  She even failed her project in language arts because she missed the first line in the directions, and it seems impossible to make it through her homework.

The only time she is completely focused is when she is playing chess.  Somehow, she has a laser focus and can often see the game playing out to the end in her mind.  She loves being on the chess team with her best friend Red and really wants to be in the top twelve to get a spot at chess camp, but her grades are getting in the way.

Her parents and teachers think she may have ADHD, but Clea doesn't think it's possible.  After all, she can focus on chess.  She just needs to work harder and stop making stupid mistakes.

Clea doesn't want to have ADHD, but she does know things need to change.  Her grades are falling, and she might even be losing friendships because of her impulsive behavior.  She needs to get focused now before she loses her friends and her plae in chess club.

Alyson Gerber's novel is inspired by her experiences with ADHD, and some students may see themselves reflected here.  It just feels like a little too much ADHD pamphlet with some story wrapped around it.  Also, her friends are a little unrealistic.  If you shared my most personal secret with everyone, even on accident, I don't know that I would trust you anymore.  Clea embarrassment over ADHD doesn't really ring true either.  Many kids have this diagnosis; it is much more normalized now than it was even ten years ago.  In conclusion, I would definitely purchase this book for middle and upper elementary libraries, but I think reading the blurb would be sufficient to recommend it its target audience.