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Different
Twelve-year-old Izzy wants to be like everyone else, but she has a secret. She isn’t weird or angry, like some of the kids at school think. Izzy has Tourette syndrome. Hiding outbursts and tics from her classmates is hard enough, but when a new girl arrives, Izzy’s fear of losing her best friend makes Izzy’s symptoms worse. And when she sees her crush act suspiciously, runaway thoughts take root inside of her. As the pressure builds and her world threatens to spin out of control, Izzy must face her fear and reveal her secret, whatever the costs.
Authentic and perceptive, Different shines a light on the delicate line of a child’s hopes and fears and inspires us all to believe that perhaps we are not so different after all.
The book will be available on Amazon after publication date. Is available for pre-order on publisher's website: https://absolutelovepublishing.com/shop/
Authentic and perceptive, Different shines a light on the delicate line of a child’s hopes and fears and inspires us all to believe that perhaps we are not so different after all.
The book will be available on Amazon after publication date. Is available for pre-order on publisher's website: https://absolutelovepublishing.com/shop/
178 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2018
19 people want to read
About the author
Janet McLaughlin
7 books44 followersI have been involved in the communication field most of my adult life as either a writer, teacher, or editor. I am a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the Florida Writers Association and am an avid fan of cheerleading competitions, especially those involving my grandchildren. I live in Florida with my husband Tom. My other passions involve tennis, traveling, walking, and meeting people.
"Different"
Twelve-year-old Izzy wants to be like everyone else, but she has a secret. She isn’t weird or angry, like some of the kids at school think. Izzy has Tourette syndrome. Hiding outbursts and tics from her classmates is hard enough, but when a new girl arrives, Izzy’s fear of losing her best friend makes Izzy’s symptoms worse. And when she sees her crush act suspiciously, runaway thoughts take root inside of her. As the pressure builds and her world threatens to spin out of control, Izzy must face her fear and reveal her secret, whatever the costs.
Authentic and perceptive, Different shines a light on the delicate line of a child’s hopes and fears and inspires us all to believe that perhaps we are not so different after all.
"Different"
Twelve-year-old Izzy wants to be like everyone else, but she has a secret. She isn’t weird or angry, like some of the kids at school think. Izzy has Tourette syndrome. Hiding outbursts and tics from her classmates is hard enough, but when a new girl arrives, Izzy’s fear of losing her best friend makes Izzy’s symptoms worse. And when she sees her crush act suspiciously, runaway thoughts take root inside of her. As the pressure builds and her world threatens to spin out of control, Izzy must face her fear and reveal her secret, whatever the costs.
Authentic and perceptive, Different shines a light on the delicate line of a child’s hopes and fears and inspires us all to believe that perhaps we are not so different after all.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 21, 2018
DIFFERENT by Janet McLaughlin will pull tweens into the life of Isabelle, aka Izzy, a girl struggling to keep a secret. In a seemingly lighthearted story, McLaughlin tackles the serious subject of Tourette Syndrome and creates a character and story readers won’t soon forget.
Izzy’s a normal tween or thinks she would be, if not for the neurological tics and vocalizations over which she had no control. So, Izzy does her best to stay under the radar at school. Yet she can’t stop tap, tap, tapping her friend’s shoulder or letting out an occasional grunt during class. Both are embarrassing moments that could cause any tween to run and hide, but Izzy doesn’t. She’s resilient, kind and determined. She tries out for the school softball team, attends a dance and occasionally emotionally spars with her friends and parents. And when it comes to helping out a boy she kind of likes who has a darker secret, she’s all in.
While any middle grader who reads DIFFERENT will get lost in the story about a girl who thinks she is so different, they’ll also discover Izzy really isn’t. She wants what all tweens want, to have friends, to have fun and to belong.
Izzy’s a normal tween or thinks she would be, if not for the neurological tics and vocalizations over which she had no control. So, Izzy does her best to stay under the radar at school. Yet she can’t stop tap, tap, tapping her friend’s shoulder or letting out an occasional grunt during class. Both are embarrassing moments that could cause any tween to run and hide, but Izzy doesn’t. She’s resilient, kind and determined. She tries out for the school softball team, attends a dance and occasionally emotionally spars with her friends and parents. And when it comes to helping out a boy she kind of likes who has a darker secret, she’s all in.
While any middle grader who reads DIFFERENT will get lost in the story about a girl who thinks she is so different, they’ll also discover Izzy really isn’t. She wants what all tweens want, to have friends, to have fun and to belong.
May 27, 2019
I read this book to see the impact that Tourette Syndrome has on a young person. If your effected by this disorder this story will help your progress through life. I feel that it was an eye opening story and very interesting. The Author told a story that held my attention although I have not read of a young person’s struggle and as she is female I am thinking it would be easer for a male child. Fitting in with your peers is very important for social development and females have a harder time adapting due to the complexity of their interaction.
September 13, 2018
This story clearly illustrates the frustration, ostracization, and embarrassment resulting from the often misunderstood manifestations of Tourette’s Syndrome through the daily struggles of young teen, Izzy Palmer. There is also a deeper lesson here though for more ‘normal’ young people who may be afraid of, or judge harshly, those who are ‘different’ whether that difference be Tourette’s, or identity, emotional, mental, physical issues, helping them to have an understanding of, and empathy for the ones who do struggle with them. Izzy is a captivating character and the reader becomes invested in her early on. I found my heart breaking for her at times and rejoicing with her at others. I wanted more… will there be a sequel? or better yet, a series? I highly recommend this book for all young people, teachers, and parents.
September 14, 2019
Isabella Palmer does her best to be a “normal” 8th grader despite being diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at age 5. No one knows of Isabella’s diagnosis except a few select teachers and her best friend, Abbie. Isabella is fine with that. But when she tries out for softball and Abbie seems to find a new best friend, she just might have to reveal her diagnosis. In time, Isabella learns that everyone has something they are hiding, and trust can only exist when all walls are broken down.
Opinion:
I loved Different because the complex plot conveys the chaos of every middle schooler’s life. Each reader will learn something new from this book by Janet McLaughlin. The author does a great job conveying emotions so readers can feel what Isabella experiences. As someone who knew nothing of Tourette Syndrome, I learned a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed Different.
Opinion:
I loved Different because the complex plot conveys the chaos of every middle schooler’s life. Each reader will learn something new from this book by Janet McLaughlin. The author does a great job conveying emotions so readers can feel what Isabella experiences. As someone who knew nothing of Tourette Syndrome, I learned a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed Different.
July 29, 2018
In Different, our main character, Izzy, lives with the neurological disorder called Tourette syndrome (TS). Author Janet McLaughlin easily transports the reader into Izzy’s world, struggling and succeeding with this spunky young lady as she faces the consequences of her actions (an adult-sized order for a girl with TS). Easy to love, Izzy meets life on her own terms in the outfield of a girls’ softball game, reminding us that integrity is the common ground for all of us regardless of how “different” we may seem to one another. It’s an easy read for a hard to explain condition with emotionally satisfying fly-ball rewards.
September 12, 2018
Izzy is a character to root for. She's like her friends in every way except one. Izzy has Tourette's.
This is a perfect book for middle-graders to read on their own, and would make a great read-aloud discussion book- even for younger kids. I hope teachers will embrace this novel, add it to their book clubs, share it with kids who might feel they are a little different.
This is a perfect book for middle-graders to read on their own, and would make a great read-aloud discussion book- even for younger kids. I hope teachers will embrace this novel, add it to their book clubs, share it with kids who might feel they are a little different.
October 31, 2018
Enlightening and Powerful
I never heard of this disease and then I picked up this. I wanted to read more even after I finished the last page. Besides being unworkable it was a page turner. Fantastic book!
I never heard of this disease and then I picked up this. I wanted to read more even after I finished the last page. Besides being unworkable it was a page turner. Fantastic book!
December 8, 2023
I absolutely love this book's inspiring message! Who hasn't felt "different" at some point? Yet it's uplifting to consider how none of us are really so different after all.
January 16, 2024
It was a good middle-grade novel.
September 12, 2018
In many ways, Izzy is like every other tween girl. She worries about losing her best friend when a new girl starts sharing their time. She longs to join the softball team and be a valuable player. She has a crush on a boy and she hopes he likes her back.
But Izzy also has Tourette’s Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her nervous tics and obsessive thoughts make her the target of the class bully. The medication she takes to control them helps, but it also makes her tired and hungry, so she gains weight. Struggling to fit in, she stops taking her medication and tries to cover up her tics. But when her life spins out of control, Izzy must find the courage to accept who she is, including her TS and OCD.
This book offers valuable insight into children challenged by TS and OCD. It’s also a heartwarming story of friendship, and softball players will love it.
But Izzy also has Tourette’s Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Her nervous tics and obsessive thoughts make her the target of the class bully. The medication she takes to control them helps, but it also makes her tired and hungry, so she gains weight. Struggling to fit in, she stops taking her medication and tries to cover up her tics. But when her life spins out of control, Izzy must find the courage to accept who she is, including her TS and OCD.
This book offers valuable insight into children challenged by TS and OCD. It’s also a heartwarming story of friendship, and softball players will love it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews