Focused

By: Alyson Gerber

Narrated by: Cassandra Morris

Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

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.

©2019 Alyson Gerber (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Critic Reviews

Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books

Today Show Pick

Junior Library Guild Selection 

Good but…ROMANCE?!

I was loving these book but romance! 🤢 She is 12 years old girl you have your whole life ahead of you plenty of time for that stuff. But otherwise the book was amazing! It seemed to be real her family her ADHD or formally as ADD. So yeah her story is great. But why does every story about a girl over 10 have to have romance😟( mines Jennifer Nielsen and Lauren Traries. Thank you guys )

Hoping all my students can read this

As a teacher with ADHD herself, I find my connection to the main character and those around her more in towering than I thought. I almost wish I had read the authors note at the beginning but if I’m to share this with my students I definitely will. I highly encourage all folks who engage with students or with adults to read and listen to this book. The performer did an amazing job as well!

Life Struggles Improves Your Chess Game

Although the story my have made life more fixable than it is, it was well written with strong values and habits that will benefit everyone. I especially enjoyed how the game of chess was used as a motivational and learning incentive to improve and enjoy our life here on earth.

Great for educators and parents!

This book is great for educators and parry s! It will help them to understand better what goes on inside the brain of students/children with ADHD.

Thank you!

Meh

Its good for free but way oversimplified ADHD and its treatment.

She takes meds and everything is perfect.

Many have to try many meds and many doses to get the right one.

Late ADHD Diagnosis

This book was wonderful, I found it very relatable. I grew up without the diagnoses of ADHD and went through many of the struggles that were described. I have never felt so understood and it was very healing to see that other people think so similarly to me. Most of my life I have felt very misunderstood and I had no idea so much of it was caused by ADHD. I really think family members of people who have ADHD should read this book.

GREAT BOOK !!!!

I love this book its sooooooooooooooo good 😁😁😁😁 I love that it is about a girl with ADHD and I love hearing about the challenges that she faced

This book was great

Me and my daughter listen to this book at least two times I think it was great my daughter really liked it to

Recommend

Great for kids w/ ADHD

( I have ADHD) awesome book . Read this now so good .