On slug days, Lauren feels slow and slimy. She feels like everyone yells at her, and that she has no friends. Today there is a different bus driver; Dan and Sachi are sitting in Lauren’s seat on the bus; and Lauren’s teacher interrupts her reading time. It is definitely a slug day. But not every day is like this. On butterfly days, Lauren makes her classmates laugh, or goes to get ice cream, or works on a special project with Mom. Lauren has Autism Spectrum Disorder (an umbrella term that has included Asperger Syndrome since 2013), and she sees the world differently from many people. Sometimes this makes Lauren want to flip her lid, especially at school, where she learns differently from her classmates. But with support and stubbornness and a flair that’s all her own, Lauren masters tricks to stay calm, to understand others’ feelings, and to let her personality shine. She even manages to find common ground with her sticky, slobbery baby sister. Best of all, being different gives Lauren insight into the insecurities of the new student, Irma. Award-winning author Sara Leach writes Lauren’s endearing story with empathy and humor, sending her flying off like a butterfly into a new chapter of life with a new friend. ― Publisher Praise for Slug Days 2017 Foreword INDIES Juvenile Fiction Award Finalist 2018 ALA Schneider Family Middle School Book Award Finalist 2019 Chocolate Lily Award: Chapter Book/Early Novel nominee 2018 Huffpost, "17 Books That Promote Understanding of Autism" selection 2018 A Mighty Girl, "A Different Way of Thinking: 20 Books About Autistic Mighty Girls" selection 2018 USBBY Outstanding International Books List selection 2025 CBC Disability Pride Month Booklist 2018 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens Spring Edition Starred Selection "Lauren's narrative voice is honest, poignant, and spot-on in describing her often baffled perceptions...Bender's pencil-and-digital illustrations appear on nearly every generously leaded spread. Her tender, winsome depictions of Lauren, sometimes endearingly engaged but other times steamy with anger, broaden the tale and make it accessible to even children transitioning to chapter books. This nondidactic effort is a fine, affecting addition to the literature for kids on the spectrum and for those who know those kids -- in short, for just about everyone."―Kirkus Reviews "Bender's pencil drawings readily reflect characters' frustrations and other emotions -- feelings that Lauren acknowledges she has trouble recognizing. Leach's empathetic novel should both open eyes and encourage greater patience and understanding."―Publishers Weekly "A necessary addition to elementary school libraries and a potential spark for a discussion about autism, Asperger's, or simply embracing differences."―School Library Journal "On 'slug days' Lauren feels 'slow and slimy.' She's aware of how her autism spectrum disorder makes her behave differently from her classmates, but that doesn't mean it's always easy to know how to act. The first-person narration makes Lauren's logic clear, even as readers may see why something she does is funny...Lauren has plenty of support from the adults around her, who provide hints about responding to social cues and strategies such as squeezing a ball or an eraser in stressful moments. (Leach's experience teaching students with ASD, mentioned in the appended author's note, shows in the specificity of these suggestions.) Lauren's happier 'butterfly days' become something to root for, as she bonds with her baby sister and eventually makes a friend. Frequent clear pencil and digital illustrations break up the sometimes-long paragraphs and should help young readers understand Lauren's emotions and others' reactions."―The Horn Book Magazine " Slug Days wisely presents autism as neither disability nor exceptionalism. It's a fact that Lauren lives with; it shapes her encounters without necessarily limiting them. At the book's core lies a wish that anyone can identify with: the need for a friend. This winsome, gentle introduction to differences will be a positive addition to school and home libraries."―Foreword Reviews "A thoroughly 'kid friendly' story that is as entertaining as it is informative, Slug Days is unreservedly recommended as an important and highly valued addition to preschool, elementary school and community library collections for children ages 4 to 8."―Midwest Book Review "In creating a nuanced, formidable character, Leach tackles a challenging topic with skill and even some lightness."―Quill & Quire " Slug Days is a sensitive, playful, lovingly told chapter book about school, friends, and days both good and bad, drawn from author Sara Leach's real-life experiences in classrooms....Whether she's making homes for insects, visiting her favourite tree, or playing with her baby sister, Lauren is a lovable character at the centre of a relevant story. I hope Slug Days reaches a wide audience of parents, teachers, libra