Following Braced , which had three starred reviews, 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 knows 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 that's what she's going to have to do, to find a way to focus. 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. Awards and Praise for Focused: Today Show Best Kids' Books of the YearKirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year A Mighty Girl's Books of the YearTD Summer Reading Club Top Recommended ReadsAustin Public Library's Best Middle Grade Fiction of the YearThe Children's Book Review Best Kids Books from 2019, So Far Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionGarden State Book Award NomineeRhode Island Middle School Book Award NomineeOklahoma Library Association's Book Award Nominee Michigan Library Association's Book Award NomineeBooklist Top 10 Health & Wellness for Youth "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 being assertive and an effective communicator, identifying what individuals need to succeed, and 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 "Readers with and without ADHD will relate to Clea's struggles." -- School Library Journal Alyson Gerber is the author of the critically acclaimed, own-voices novels  Braced  and  Focused  published by Scholastic. Her third novel  Taking Up Space  will be in stores on May 18, 2021. She has an MFA from The New School in Writing for Children and lives in New York City with her family. Visit her at alysongerber.com and find her everywhere else @alysongerber.