Focused

This story reminded me of an after school special. Remember those? A girl begins middle school and finds that coping with all of the papers and responsibility of a large school become overwhelming. Her friendships are suffering and her grades are suffering as well. She is referred to a specialist who assesses her. The book is very good about explaining the process of assessment and then explaining the way a brain processes with ADD. The girl is guided by counselors onto how to organize and plan. She is also given medication. The storyline is a little bland in my opinion. The facts are very informational about ADD and what it may be like to struggle with it. I think the characters are relatable and the there is enough story there to make it a good read. It's a must-read if you child has been diagnosed. Educators of kids about 9 to 14 should keep this book in their classroom. The book is clear on ADD not being a one size fits all diagnosis and that there are many different ways to go about coping with it. There is no sex, profanity, drugs so it is very classroom friendly. I have ADD myself and I wish I had a book like this when I was younger. I also wish we had the research when I was younger. Glad to have purchased this!

I just finished reading FOCUSED today (I read over half the book today because I couldn't put it down). I learned so much about what it's like for someone with ADHD to go about their daily activities. I had learned about ADHD in several education courses, but this book let me see ADHD from a different perspective - I was able to get inside Clea's mind and see how she really saw herself and how she feels. I want to be a teacher in the future and reading this helped me so much with knowing what I can do to support any of my students who have ADHD, or any other condition that may require accommodations. I also love that dyslexia is mentioned because it's bringing more awareness to a variety of conditions that affect students of all ages. Additionally, there are so many lessons about speaking up for yourself that people of all ages can learn from. Any students who are Clea's age can begin to see how they might advocate for themselves and tell others what they need, but adults can learn from this as well. And on a final note, since I want to teach Spanish in the future, I absolutely loved that Alyson Gerber included a few scenes in Clea's Spanish class! Thank you for writing such an amazing story that tackles so many issues readers of all ages can learn from!-Olivia

What an incredibly thorough and compassionate look into ADHD and the effects it might have on students. Focused by Alyson Gerber, follows Clea, a seventh grader who’s unknowingly suffering from the symptoms of ADHD—unable to finish assignments, failing tests, impulsive comments, and clumsiness. Her mind is constantly in motion and unable to stay focused that her parents threaten to make her quit chess if she doesn’t concentrate more in school. It’s exhausting for Clea and it takes a toll on her self-esteem and she has a hard time believing in herself—even doubting her awesome chess skills. I was engrossed in the book and felt so much for Clea. This honest, relatable, and informative story examines the disorder and the support that one might need to manage the symptoms and succeed. As a teacher, I know I have a great responsibility to make sure that all students needs and accommodations are met so that they feel included and supported. This book will help me further understand how the minds of students who have ADHD work—there is a very candid authors note about her own struggles with ADHD and resources to further educate ourselves on the subject.

I bought this book for my daughter since it's on the 2023-2024 Battle of the Books list for Oregon. Here is her opinion after reading it:The first thing you should know is that I have ADHD, so at first I was skeptical about reading this one, however I found the writing to have an accurate depiction of what it's like to have ADHD. I shows the positives and the struggles. I found the storyline and plot intriguing which made me want to keep reading. I also felt like the author did a great job of making the main character relatable and made you really root for her. Overall, I really like this book and found it easy and enjoyable to read.

In this well-written and compassionate book, author Alyson Gerber portrays the real challenges and successes of a tween girl who discovers that she has ADHD. As she describes Clea's experience, thoughts and feelings, we see how Clea accepts that her brain is wired differently, learns to live with her challenges and builds self-confidence. The dialogue and relationships between Clea and her peers are both entertaining and insightful and the family dynamics jump off the page as familiar and poignant. I've recommended this book to several of my clients with ADHD and they have really liked it, finding inspiration in Clea and her journey. A terrific book!

Alyson Gerber’s Focused is a moving exploration of a child’s life with ADHD. It deflates stereotypes about the condition and shows just how much effort people with ADHD have to exert to function in a neurotypical world. With an unforgettable voice and strong themes of friendship, family, and crossing over from childhood to teenage years, Focused is a memorable read. I would strongly recommend this one for anyone curious about ADHD, chess lovers, and anyone who’s ever squabbled with a best friend.

I felt like I was able to see the feelings and struggles with those with ADHD. It also had a positive side to it. I bought the book because I have a grandson with ADHD/dyslexia, and wanted to learn more.

I highly recommend this book for my teacher friends and parents of an ADHDer 🖤 Amazing insight in what it’s like to navigate grade school and overcome self-esteem challenges based on how their brains function and mature differently than neuro-typical kids, and how teachers’ influence and approach can be encouraging or detrimental. I really love that you can see through the author’s eyes how to get the very best out of ADHDers through empathy and support.

A fantastic and relatable read for my grade 6 child living with an ADHD diagnosis. I will share this book with everyone including counsellors offering ADHD support and my child’s school. An excellent way for tweens to see they’re not alone. The emotions, stressors, relationship woes, highlights, good days, bad days, determination, victories and support that the main character experiences makes for a very realistic view of everyday life. This book leaves parents and their tween feeling encouraged!

Daughter reports she couldn't put it down. Say's it is an authentic representation of how she feels and thinks, well worth reading.

Great story! Gave me a much better understanding of the frustrations my child deals with on a daily basis.

My daughter loved the book. It arrived quickly as well

Perfect for the 11 year old girl recipient