Sticks & Stones

Twelve-year-old Elyse has a rare condition where words that others use to describe her appear on her skin. Throughout her life, words like "cute" and "smart" have shown up and faded naturally, but now in middle school, she starts seeing harsher words appear. As seventh grade begins, Elyse must navigate changing friendships, her first crush, and a class election - all while dealing with increasingly visible words on her body. She joins an anonymous support group for kids with medical conditions, hoping to find others who might understand her situation. The story tracks Elyse's journey to find confidence and self-acceptance despite what others say about her. Along the way, she learns about the power of words, friendship, and standing up for oneself. This middle-grade novel explores themes of identity, self-worth, and the impact that words can have on how young people see themselves. Through its unique magical realism premise, the book presents a literal manifestation of how deeply others' opinions can affect us.

Readers report this middle-grade novel realistically portrays anxiety and name-calling while staying appropriate for ages 8-12. Many praise the integration of poetry and how the protagonist's inner thoughts appear as actual words on her body. Liked: - Handles serious topics with age-appropriate humor - Strong message about self-acceptance - Creative poetry elements throughout - Relatable portrayal of middle school social dynamics Disliked: - Some found the magical realism element confusing - A few readers wanted more resolution with secondary characters - Pacing drags in middle chapters according to multiple reviews Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (89 ratings) Kirkus: Starred Review Common reader comment: "Perfect for kids dealing with bullying or self-esteem issues, but never feels preachy." The book resonates particularly with teachers and school librarians who note students frequently request it after class read-alouds.

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🔹 The main character, Elyse, has a rare condition where words people use to describe her physically appear on her skin - reflecting the book's themes of self-image and the power of words. ✨ Author Abby Cooper drew inspiration for the story from her own experiences as a school librarian, observing how children dealt with labels and self-perception. 🔹 The book was published in 2016 and was Cooper's debut novel, earning her recognition as a promising new voice in middle-grade fiction. ✨ Throughout the story, positive words appear in purple on Elyse's skin, while negative words appear in dark red - creating a visual metaphor for emotional impact. 🔹 The novel addresses important topics like anxiety disorders and social pressure while maintaining an engaging, accessible tone for young readers ages 8-12.