Special

"Fans of Sharon M. Draper's Out of My Mind series will love this new story. Highly recommended for all school and public libraries." —School Library Journal, starred reviewTold through the alternating perspectives of two seventh-grade girls—one with Down syndrome and one without—Special is a story about friendship, identity, loss, and belonging.Madison and Meg have been inseparable for as long as they can remember. Meg’s Down syndrome has never defined their friendship—until junior high changes everything. As Madison struggles with grief after her father’s death and the pressure to fit in with new classmates, she finds herself pulled between popularity and loyalty. Meg, who has always trusted their bond, begins to feel the shift—and must find her own strength when the friendship she relies on feels uncertain.As both girls navigate seventh grade, they are forced to confront difficult questions: Who am I without the people who protect me? Do I need to change to belong? And what does it really mean to be a good friend?With honesty, compassion, and emotional depth, Special explores disability representation, inclusion, and social and emotional learning (SEL) in a way that resonates with readers ages 9–13. Ideal for classroom use, this novel is a valuable resource for parents, teachers, counselors, and librarians seeking books that spark meaningful conversations about empathy, resilience, and acceptance. Read more