WEIRD SAD AND SILENT

It’s been years since 10-year-old Daisy and her mother escaped her mother’s abusive ex-boyfriend, but the young girl still lives in fear.

Daisy’s a force, albeit one who’s suffered unspeakable things in her past. She’s thoughtful and insightful, though the school bullies don’t see her that way, dubbing her “Weird Sad and Silent” because of the way she freezes when she’s upset and counts to calm herself, tapping each number on her finger—a practice that began when she would hide from her mother’s partner. Years later, Daisy still keeps to herself. But when new student Austin arrives, she starts to emerge from her shell. Austin’s quiet like her, but he has an inner confidence and poise that she admires. As they grow closer, Daisy begins to summon a strength she never knew she had. McGhee adeptly balances a candid yet sensitive portrayal of domestic violence and its lasting impacts with a nuanced exploration of self-discovery and the power of friendship. In Daisy, she’s crafted a protagonist with a rich inner life. Daisy uses language and numbers in uniquely brilliant ways, whether counting in Roman numerals, writing haiku, or inventing phrases: “Invisibilizing” herself is how she describes flying under the radar, while “futurizing” is her term for visualizing what’s to come. Physical descriptors are minimal; Daisy’s mother’s family comes from Mexico.

A beautiful story of unvarnished honesty and tender hope—this courageous protagonist will capture every heart.