Read by Cassandra Morris

From the author of the critically acclaimed Braced 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 know 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 to find a way to focus, that's what she's going to have to do. 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. "A story full of charm, compassion, and empathy." "An accurate and compassionate picture of growing up with ADHD is the icing on the cake of this well-told novel." "Author Gerber, who has ADHD herself, is able to compassionately and realistically convey the experience in this sweetly appealing story." "This book includes middle school family drama, a little romance, and could be used for growth mindset lessons about…learning to become a self-advocate." "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." "With a realistically youthful voice, narrator Cassandra Morris convincingly portrays the middle school joys and angst of a twelve-year-old girl…Morris's strong portrayal of Clea will have listeners cheering for her successes."

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