Weird Sad and Silent - by Alison McGhee (Hardcover)

About the Book

A new classmate helps bullied ten-year-old Daisy find her voice.

Book Synopsis

In this touching novel by the acclaimed author of Telephone of the Tree, an intriguing new boy at school helps Daisy cope with both bullying and past trauma.

Daisy has been working on invisibilizing herself--ever since living with her mother's violent ex-boyfriend, and now to avoid the school bullies who are targeting her. She keeps a low profile, eating lunch with the librarian instead of in the Lunchroom of Terror and secretly counting whenever she's anxious.

But things are looking up. A new boy has befriended her and seems able to stand up to the bullies, and the stray cat she's been feeding is starting to almost trust her. Maybe she can finally focus on futurizing rather than invisibilizing.

Review Quotes

"Written in compelling, read aloud-ready vignettes that are as compact as they are impactful, McGhee delivers a distinctly voiced story of connection and resilience." --Publishers Weekly

"This is a moving tale of self-acceptance with a heap of tender respect for the quiet, weird, and sad kids everywhere." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

★"McGhee adeptly balances a candid yet sensitive portrayal of domestic violence and its lasting impacts with a nuanced exploration of self-discovery and the power of friendship. In Daisy, she's crafted a protagonist with a rich inner life. "--Kirkus

"Well-developed characters in a believable world and short chapters make for accessible, enjoyable reading, balancing harder elements of the story with the beauty of community. A hopeful, heartening story. "--Kirkus

About the Author

Alison McGhee is the New York Times bestselling author of books for all ages in all forms, including Telephone of the Tree, What I Leave Behind, Shadow Baby, Firefly Hollow, and Someday. She is the recipient of many awards and grants, including the Geisel Medal, the Christopher Award, four Minnesota Book Awards, and Minnesota State Arts Board and McKnight Foundation Grants. Her work has been translated into more than twenty languages. She grew up in upstate New York and lives in Minneapolis.