Focused, Alyson Gerber
Focused, Alyson Gerber
List: $16.95 | Sale: $11.87
Club: $8.47

Focused

Author: Alyson Gerber

Narrator: Cassandra Morris

Unabridged: 6 hr 39 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/27/2021


Synopsis

From the author of the critically acclaimed Braced comes a story of a girl caught between her love of chess and her ADHD.Clea can’t control her thoughts. She knows she has to do her homework … but she gets distracted. She knows she can’t just say whatever thought comes into her head … but sometimes she can’t help herself. She know she needs to focus … but how can she do that when the people around her are always chewing gum loudly or making other annoying noises?It’s starting to be a problem—not just in school, but when Clea’s playing chess or just hanging out with her best friend. Other kids are starting to notice. When Clea fails one too many tests, her parents take her to be tested, and she finds out that she has ADHD, which means her attention is all over the place instead of where it needs to be.Clea knows life can’t continue the way it’s been going. She’s just not sure how you can fix a problem that’s all in your head. But to find a way to focus, that’s what she’s going to have to do.In a starred review, Booklist called Alyson Gerber’s first novel, Braced, “a masterfully constructed and highly empathetic debut about a different kind of acceptance.” With Focused, she explores even further how, when life gives you a challenge, the best way to face it is with an open mind, an open heart, and the open support of the people around you.

About Alyson Gerber

Alyson Gerber is the author of Braced. She is a graduate of the New School’s MFA in Writing for Children and lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and daughter. Visit her at AlysonGerber.com and find her everywhere else at @AlysonGerber.

About Cassandra Morris

Cassandra Morris is an American voiceover actress, narrator, and writer. She began her career as a teenager, hosting the educational video series Real World Science, and then went on to work as a journalist, writing for newspapers as well as fashion and style blogs. She now works primarily as a voiceover artist, narrating and voicing characters for animation, anime shows, and audiobooks—for which she has earned several Earphones Awards.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Katy O.

As an adult teacher/librarian/parent I very much appreciated this story about a 7th grade girl with ADHD, and actually learned a few things about the condition. I appreciate what Gerber did with the story and how she shares so much with readers about ADHD, although it does tend toward the blatant te......more

Rating: 4.5 Stars Clea felt like she was failing at EVERYTHING! She was messing up her class assignments, hurting her friends and family - she just couldn't seem to do anything right. After a string of poor grades, her parents had Clea tested and discovered that she has ADHD. Now that she had an expl......more

4.5 stars My younger self felt so seen reading this. I have ADHD and absolutley relate to Clea. I had and have some of the same struggles as she does and boy did this book really hit home for me thinking back to my struggles in school. Loved this. SO close to 5 stars but I didnt love seeing the roman......more

Just an adorable book. It gave me some insights on ADHD and speech problems. I read this because I'm on a chess kick, and there was enough to keep me interested. As an example, the knight moving clop, clop, clop. It's nice to read a book about a loving family. This book was a very happy accident......more


Quotes

“A story full of charm, compassion, and empathy.” Today

“An accurate and compassionate picture of growing up with ADHD is the icing on the cake of this well-told novel.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Author Gerber, who has ADHD herself, is able to compassionately and realistically convey the experience in this sweetly appealing story.” Booklist (starred review)

“This book includes middle school family drama, a little romance, and could be used for growth mindset lessons about…learning to become a self-advocate.” School Library Connection (highly recommended)

“Gerber handles this very detailed and informative look at a mind under the influence of ADHD with remarkable grace and clarity, highlighting both the difficulties and the lesser-known advantages.” Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“With a realistically youthful voice, narrator Cassandra Morris convincingly portrays the middle school joys and angst of a twelve-year-old girl…Morris's strong portrayal of Clea will have listeners cheering for her successes.” AudioFile


Awards

  • Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books
  • Today Show Pick
  • Junior Library Guild Selection