WINNER 2023-24 PA Keystone
Middle School Book Award
Dear Student nominated for
Iowa Children’s Choice Award
Dear Student is nominated for the Crown Award
Dear Student on the Wellesley Books 2022 Bestseller List for Middle Grade & Young Adult
Finalist for Keystone to Reading Secondary Book Awards for 2023-2024
“Tweens won’t be able to put down this heartfelt story with a fresh plot, vibrant characters, and even a recipe for whoopie pies.”
Now Available
ORDER DEAR STUDENT:
A Bit About DEAR STUDENT: DEAR STUDENT is about Autumn, a girl with social anxiety and a pet guinea pig named Spud, who becomes the secret voice of her middle school’s advice column.
Like the amazing kid activists today, Autumn doesn’t just find her voice, but with the help of Fearless Fred—the part of each one of us that fear can’t boss around—Autumn is brave enough to own it. And use it! And soon she realizes that she can make a difference.
But sharing her voice anonymously through the advice column gets complicated when her heart is divided between 2 friends who want very different things. And when the advice she gives unknowingly puts her smack in the middle of those friends and the things they want, she worries.
Does she have the courage to trust her voice and follow her heart, even when it’s divided? Can she keep her identity a secret? And what happens to those friendships if she can’t?
Oh, and this story is also filled with lots of animals and delicious whoopie pies (recipes included, allergy friendly ones, too!)
A heartfelt, authentic book about friendship, courage, and honesty. It’s about finding – and more importantly, owning – your own voice.
A story that shines with honesty and heart.
Will resonate with readers who know that feelings and friendships can be complicated, and they will root for Autumn as she searches for her true superpower.
It’s apparent early on that sensitive Autumn is far more competent than she gives herself credit for, and even as Swartz (Give and Take) gracefully builds further incident into the protagonist’s life…there’s little doubt that she’ll end the book in a good place, one that celebrates her newfound faith in others and herself.
A heartfelt story about finding the courage to stand up for your beliefs even when you’d rather remain invisible.
DEAR STUDENT is the middle grade novel the world needs to read!
Honored that DEAR STUDENT was included in the article, Books to Help Kids with Mental Health
When I was reading “Dear Student,” I was in awe of the love that was showcased. Whether that be mother-/daughter or sister-sister, the novel overflows with beautiful relationships.
