Have you ever faced a BIG challenge in your life? Maybe you had to learn to do something hard, or you’ve struggled in school or with friendships! Life is full of challenges and hard things. But when we decide not to back down and instead face them head-on, it only makes us stronger. I think we all have superpowers to deal with hard things. Our superpowers are the characteristics of each of us that make us special and unique. And they don’t always have to look like you might think!
I have ADHD or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This means it makes it a little harder for me to concentrate on things than other people, but there are also so many positives that come along with it.
I had the chance to write all about this in an article for ADDitude Magazine and a blog post for Yooou Life, and I was interviewed on an ADHD podcast. I hope my thoughts on learning differently and being yourself will inspire you! Finally, I have been compiling a list of books with main characters who learn differently. Check out two of these lists below! Know of any I missed? Please message me on Instagram: @gracie.dix.author
Here’s the op-ed piece I wrote for ADDitude magazine about being able to do amazing things BECAUSE you’re different.
In this article for Yooou Life, I’m sharing all about how ADHD can actually be a gift that’s worth embracing! (There are some helpful tips for everyday life in this one, too.)
Are you more of a podcast person? I usually don’t listen to podcasts. but now I have a favorite new one:
ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka! I was honored to be interviewed by Tracy about becoming an author and writing with ADHD. Find it on Apple Podcasts right here.
And finally, I also wrote this list of books with ADHD characters who absolutely slay. Be sure to check out the list and share it with a friend!
So if you or someone you know struggles with ADD or ADHD, know that you’re not alone! You just learn a little differently. And to prove it, here are 10 more of my favorite middle-grade books with characters who learn differently as well. They’ve encouraged me to fight through my own struggles and find my superpower, and I hope they inspire you like they did for me!
10 Books With Main Characters Who Learn Differently
1. Welcome To Superhero School by Gracie Dix
I go to a school where everyone has a learning difference. I made sure to implement the respect for differences and the community that results that I have found at my school into my book. People who are reading it might notice that some of the characters process things differently, and not just because they have superpowers. This is an essential, and interesting, piece of some of the characters. That makes sense because we who learn differently are very interesting people! 😊
2. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
The main character of this story, Willow Chance, is obsessed with nature and medical conditions. She also finds it comforting to count by 7s. In the book, Willow learns her own special way to work through grief and find joy in the journey of life. Highly recommend!
3. Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
If you or someone you know has dyslexia, definitely check out this one! Inside the book, the main character, Ally, meets an awesome teacher who helps her realize just because she’s different doesn’t mean she’s not amazing. If you’ve ever struggled to fit in, you’ll love this book.
4. El Deafo by Cece Bell
This is a really fun graphic novel for anyone and everyone who knows what it feels like to be different. The author Cece Bell wrote this book about her experience going to school with a large and awkward hearing aid. It’s a great story about acceptance and connection for kids of all ages!
5. The Wild Book by Margarita Engle
Fefa has dyslexia and is told that she’ll never be able to read or write. But her mom has a great idea which becomes her wild book. The book ends up teaching her to use words in a powerful and life-changing way. This is definitely worth a read!
6. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Mockingbird is the story of a girl who has Asperger’s, which makes everything in her life really black and white. After losing her brother, she struggles to understand and figure out the world on her own until she learns all about the idea of closure.
7. Hank Zipper – The World’s Greatest Underachiever Series by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Hank has ADHD and dyslexia, and anyone who learns differently will definitely relate to his adventures! There are 8 books in this series, so it’s a great choice for keeping you entertained for awhile.
8. Stanley Will Probably Be Fine by Sally J Pina
In this fun book, the main character Stanley deals with his anxiety and sensory processing and learns a whole lot about bravery, too. It also features comic trivia, a safety superhero, and a super-cool scavenger hunt.
9. May B. by Caroline Starr Rose
This book is a little different because it’s set on a prairie homestead. May, the main character, struggles with reading. But unlike modern readers, she doesn’t know that dyslexia is the root of her reading struggles. This is an easy yet inspiring read that middle-grade readers are sure to love!
10. The Lost Wonderland Diaries by J. Scott Savage
I love reimagined fairy tales and children’s stories. This fun book takes place after Alice in Wonderland and features book-loving Tyrus and math-loving Celia, who struggles with dyslexia and uses numbers to make sense of her world.
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Are you going to check out any of these books about kids who learn differently?
Come say hi on my Instagram, and let me know which ones and why!