Daisy Woodworm Changes the World
Thirteen-year-old Daisy Woodward loves insects, running track, and hanging out with her older brother, Sorrel, who has Down syndrome and adores men's fashion. When her social studies teacher assigns each student an oral report and project to change the world for the better, Daisy fears the class bully--who calls her Woodworm--will make fun of her lisp. Still, she decides to help Sorrel fulfill his dream of becoming a YouTube fashion celebrity despite their parents' refusal to allow him on social media.
With the help of her best friend, Poppy, and Miguel--the most popular boy in school and her former enemy--Daisy launches Sorrel's publicity campaign. But catastrophe strikes when her parents discover him online along with hateful comments from a cyberbully. If Daisy has any hope of changing the world, she'll have to regain her family's trust and face her fears of public speaking to find her own unique and powerful voice.
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Melissa Hart grew up in Los Angeles with her younger brother, Mark, who has Down syndrome. She's the author of two novels for middle-school readers--Avenging the Owl and Daisy Woodworm Changes the World--both of which have main characters with Down syndrome. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Smithsonian, Slate, CNN, and many other publications. She's the author of Better with Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy and Encourage Self-Acceptance in Tweens and Teens. Melissa lives in Oregon with her husband and daughter, plus one dog, five cats, and four chickens. She's an Oregon Master Naturalist and loves to kayak, hike, bicycle, and cross-country ski. To learn more about Melissa, please visit www.melissahart.com.
"Hart highlights the importance of disability representation and self-advocacy with thoughtful realism, and explores Daisy and Squirrel's sibling bond with nuance." --Publishers Weekly
"Readers will relate to Daisy's worries and triumphs. Portrayals of teens with Down syndrome are sympathetic and realistic. . . .This realistic fiction title skillfully discusses a number of topics relevant to today's young readers, and belongs in most collections." --School Library Journal
"Hart, who has a lisp and a brother with Down syndrome herself, sensitively explores topics such as bullying, economic hardship, and forgiveness....An uplifting story of family, community, and friendship." --Kirkus Reviews
"Hart's experience of having a brother with Down syndrome and her own lisp brings authenticity. The writing is lively, the dialogue genuine, and the story and characters believable and complex." --Manhattan Book Review
"The story explores the shifting relationships between family and friends during middle and high school as well as how to love and support one another in healthy ways. Recommended for readers who enjoy books by McDunn and Messner." --Children's Literature
"This realistic fiction addresses topics relevant to today's young readers." --Midwest Book Review
