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Scaredy Cats Scratch Back
Not yet published
Expected 28 May 26Sarah wants to be brave, mostly because she’s tired of feeling like the weird kid. But during a long day at her grandparents’ house, bravery keeps going wrong. The harder Sarah tries to prove herself, the more she ends up embarrassed, misunderstood, or in trouble.
Scaredy Cats Scratch Back is a realistic one-day story about a sensitive, smartly quirky girl trying to understand what courage really means. Over the course of her family's Memorial Day get-together, seemingly unrelated events—a cat scratch, a broken doll, overheard adult conversations, a stressful pool moment, and ongoing sibling rivalry—gradually come together in an unexpected way. When Sarah is invited on a mysterious outing with her grandmother, she discovers a quieter kind of bravery based on kindness, creativity, and the courage to share her true self.
Told in a humorous, observant voice with a 1980s setting, this story focuses on social-emotional growth rather than action or fantasy adventure. It may especially resonate with readers who identify as shy, anxious, highly sensitive, gifted, ADHD, or autistic. However, this heartfelt story would be relatable for any child who has struggled with fitting in.
Notable elements (to help match reviewers):
Realistic sibling teasing and rivalry (not neatly resolved)
Social anxiety and embarrassment portrayed honestly
Sensitive/neurodivergent-coded main character (not labeled in the story)
Family conflict present in the background
Episodic one-day structure with threads that converge near the end
Gentle emotional themes rather than fast-paced plot action
Scaredy Cats Scratch Back is a realistic one-day story about a sensitive, smartly quirky girl trying to understand what courage really means. Over the course of her family's Memorial Day get-together, seemingly unrelated events—a cat scratch, a broken doll, overheard adult conversations, a stressful pool moment, and ongoing sibling rivalry—gradually come together in an unexpected way. When Sarah is invited on a mysterious outing with her grandmother, she discovers a quieter kind of bravery based on kindness, creativity, and the courage to share her true self.
Told in a humorous, observant voice with a 1980s setting, this story focuses on social-emotional growth rather than action or fantasy adventure. It may especially resonate with readers who identify as shy, anxious, highly sensitive, gifted, ADHD, or autistic. However, this heartfelt story would be relatable for any child who has struggled with fitting in.
Notable elements (to help match reviewers):
Realistic sibling teasing and rivalry (not neatly resolved)
Social anxiety and embarrassment portrayed honestly
Sensitive/neurodivergent-coded main character (not labeled in the story)
Family conflict present in the background
Episodic one-day structure with threads that converge near the end
Gentle emotional themes rather than fast-paced plot action
78 pages, ebook
Expected publication May 28, 2026
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