Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Tornado Brain (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020) by Cat Patrick was an insightful story of neurodivergency with themes of friendship, hurt, and forgiveness. It’s a really good read full of voice.
Frankie is 13 and fascinated by tornadoes, tornado facts, and tornado shows. In fact that’s how she met her best friend Colette back in kindergarten–during an actual tornado. Colette, Frankie’s former friend, is now missing.
Because Frankie has several neurological conditions (attention deficit disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, and sensory processing disorder–labels the psychologist gave her), she doesn’t react the “right way” or say the “right things” about Colette’s disappearance. Yet, she believes she has the clues to figure out where Colette is. With the help of her older twin sister, Frankie uses her mixed up tornado brain to solve the mystery.
Each chapter has a tornado myth or fact at the beginning. Also, her family has an unusual living situation, which is fine with Frankie as long as you don’t change her routine. I especially recommend this story to anyone trying to understand someone on the “spectrum.”
The book was a 2022-2023 Truman Readers Book Award Nominee, 2021 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, 2021 Texas Lone Star Reading List Pick, 2021 Washington State Book Award for Young Readers Finalist, and a Junior Library Guild Pick.
Paper Heart is a companion book with Frankie’s twin, Tess, as the main character. Chronologically it follows Tornado Brain. See all of the author’s middle grade books here.
You can check out Cat’s young adult books here and learn more about her here.
The One and Only Ivan (HarperCollins, 2012) by Katherine Applegate is a heartbreaker and touching story. Animal lovers will especially like this book that won the 2013 Newbery award–though be prepared to be upset at what happens…