Perfect Enough - by Meg Eden Kuyatt (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Selah is a dragon.

Or at least, she feels like one. And she finally figured out how to spread her wings and soar.

Armed with her sensory tools, her notebooks and poems, and her newfound knowledge about her autism, Selah is heading to writing camp for the summer. She's excited to work on her writing, perform at the final showcase, and to meet more kids like her.

Things aren't so simple though. As soon as she arrives, she realizes that her bully from home is there too. Ezra is chaotic, attention-seeking, and always teasing her.

Selah is determined not to let him ruin her summer. But soon it turns out that it's not just Ezra causing problems. . . . As kind and enthusiastic as Selah's new friends are, they don't fully understand her autism and how overwhelming this new environment is for her.

Friend drama, classes, overstimulation, and her relationship with Ezra all start to feel like a lot. But surely Selah can make it through just a few weeks without reaching her breaking point again . . . right?

Review Quotes

Praise for Good Different:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

A School Library Journal Best Book

A Bank Street Best Book of the Year

A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book

Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers

ALSC Notable Children's Book

ILA Notable Book

"The next Wonder. Good Different should be required reading." -- Good Morning America

★ "This beautifully written novel-in-verse follows one girl's journey as she learns that she's on the autism spectrum and comes to embrace herself. Readers will rejoice with Selah as she learns to accept herself as she is." -- Booklist, starred review

★ "Heartfelt. Kuyatt uses candid lines to present Selah's own experiences, self-knowledge, and eventual self-advocacy." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This moving new novel in verse will build empathy among neurotypical kids for the challenges their autistic peers face, and help autistic kids discover the power of their own voices. Highly recommended." -- A Mighty Girl

"Here's a book that throws that dumb stereotype of the stoic autistic experience out the window -- it's full of deep feelings and soul-searching and is just an absolute joy." -- Common Sense Media

"A beautiful story about family relationships, support, and how to communicate with people you love but can't completely relate to." -- Child Mind Institute

"A brilliant, deeply moving, and redemptive novel about neurodiversity and living on the spectrum." -- The Reading Eagle

"Relatable, profound and beautifully heartfelt. I loved it." -- Elle McNicoll, author of the Schneider Family Book Award Honor-winning A Kind of Spark

"A powerful addition to literature about the autism experience. Selah is funny, insightful, and poetic in her quest to balance fitting in and staying true to herself." -- Laura Shovan, co-author of Sydney Taylor Notable novel A Place at the Table

"Meg Eden Kuyatt portrays the experience of being an autistic girl with authenticity and heart. Her beautiful verse paints a vivid picture of the challenges and the joys of being autistic. Selah is a hero that readers will root for and remember." -- Sarah Kapit, author of Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!

"Throughout Good Different, Selah learns it's okay to stand up and it's okay to stand out. Meg Kuyatt's powerful debut finds Selah answering the age-old question: Why be normal when you can soar like a dragon?" -- Eric Bell, author of Alan Cole Is not a Coward

About the Author

Meg Eden Kuyatt is the neurodivergent author of the Schneider Family Book Award Honor-winning Good Different, and a creative writing instructor. When she isn't writing, she's probably playing Fire Emblem. If she could be a Pokémon, she'd be Charizard. Find her online at megedenbooks.com or on Instagram at @meden_author.