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Focused
3 starred reviews!
"A story full of charm, compassion, and empathy." -- TODAY
Following Braced , which had three starred reviews, 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 that's what she's going to have to do, to find a way to focus.
In a starred review, 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.
"A story full of charm, compassion, and empathy." -- TODAY
Following Braced , which had three starred reviews, 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 that's what she's going to have to do, to find a way to focus.
In a starred review, 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.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2019
192 people are currently reading
2399 people want to read
About the author
Alyson Gerber
6 books317 followersAlyson Gerber is the NYTimes and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Liars Society series and critically acclaimed, middle grade novels. A former marketing director, Alyson earned her MFA in creative writing at the New School. She grew up in New England and now lives in New York City with her family. Follow her @AlysonGerber and at alysongerber.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews
January 27, 2020
After reading Alyson Gerber's author's note about her own struggles with undiagnosed ADHD at school (and from the first grade at that) I do totally and with pleasure understand why her main character Clea feels so flesh and blood real and so personally relatable (as the author is obviously even while writing a fictional story at least partially penning her own experiences, with the main difference of course and happily being that in Focused, Clea's teachers do notice that there is something seriously problematic going on with in particular Clea's schoolwork and insist that she be tested for ADHD).
And as someone who after being diagnosed with not ADHD but with nonverbal learning issues in my late forties now realises why certain aspects of my time at school and certain subjects (such as physical education, math and especially socialisation, dealing with my fellow classmates) were always so difficult and required so much work and effort (and often resulted in major problems with both my parents and my teachers who simply considered my lack of mathematical skills and physical clumsiness me being just lazy and unmotivated, since I did have very high marks in any language and literature based courses), I have definitely found Focused a delightful (even if indeed sometimes a bit message-heavy and feeling like readers are being actively taught a number of specific lessons on ADHD) reading experience and both Clea and her first person voice generally wonderfully relatable and authentic (and I also do understand that the rather many times in Focused where I tend to lose patience with Clea and in my mind even verbally criticise her, that is actually mostly just my inner child being critical of my school aged self and of the many times I acted like Clea and put myself down in a similar manner).
Highly recommended and a solid three stars is my general rating for Focused, for Alyson Gerber's both engaging and enlightening narrative. And the main reasons why I cannot yet consider more than three stars for Focused is that for one and on an entirely personal enjoyment level, the chess club scenarios have kind of felt a bit too extensively and minutely covered and presented (as I am simply not that much into chess and also not very good at it, so that much of Clea's experiences playing chess do at least for me seem a bit dragging on and on like) and that for two (and even though likely very much and sadly realistic), I would definitely and certainly want a bit more serious textual criticism by author Alyson Gerber of Clea's supposedly best friend Red, whose behaviour in my humble opinion is both totally selfish throughout Focused and also majorly approaching Clea as what tends to be labelled as a fair weather friend (and yes, by the end of Focused I absolutely did want more of a commitment from Red to act less selfishly in the future and for Clea to also be less willing to consider him her friend once more without major changes in Red's behaviour).
And as someone who after being diagnosed with not ADHD but with nonverbal learning issues in my late forties now realises why certain aspects of my time at school and certain subjects (such as physical education, math and especially socialisation, dealing with my fellow classmates) were always so difficult and required so much work and effort (and often resulted in major problems with both my parents and my teachers who simply considered my lack of mathematical skills and physical clumsiness me being just lazy and unmotivated, since I did have very high marks in any language and literature based courses), I have definitely found Focused a delightful (even if indeed sometimes a bit message-heavy and feeling like readers are being actively taught a number of specific lessons on ADHD) reading experience and both Clea and her first person voice generally wonderfully relatable and authentic (and I also do understand that the rather many times in Focused where I tend to lose patience with Clea and in my mind even verbally criticise her, that is actually mostly just my inner child being critical of my school aged self and of the many times I acted like Clea and put myself down in a similar manner).
Highly recommended and a solid three stars is my general rating for Focused, for Alyson Gerber's both engaging and enlightening narrative. And the main reasons why I cannot yet consider more than three stars for Focused is that for one and on an entirely personal enjoyment level, the chess club scenarios have kind of felt a bit too extensively and minutely covered and presented (as I am simply not that much into chess and also not very good at it, so that much of Clea's experiences playing chess do at least for me seem a bit dragging on and on like) and that for two (and even though likely very much and sadly realistic), I would definitely and certainly want a bit more serious textual criticism by author Alyson Gerber of Clea's supposedly best friend Red, whose behaviour in my humble opinion is both totally selfish throughout Focused and also majorly approaching Clea as what tends to be labelled as a fair weather friend (and yes, by the end of Focused I absolutely did want more of a commitment from Red to act less selfishly in the future and for Clea to also be less willing to consider him her friend once more without major changes in Red's behaviour).
May 1, 2019
As an adult teacher/librarian/parent I very much appreciated this story about a 7th grade girl with ADHD, and actually learned a few things about the condition. I appreciate what Gerber did with the story and how she shares so much with readers about ADHD, although it does tend toward the blatant teach-y side at times. It's also very chess-heavy, so if you have readers who are into chess, send this their way! I'd recommend this for the 4th-6th grade crowd, as it reads pretty young despite being about a 7th grader.
March 25, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Clea felt like she was failing at EVERYTHING! She was messing up her class assignments, hurting her friends and family - she just couldn't seem to do anything right. After a string of poor grades, her parents had Clea tested and discovered that she has ADHD. Now that she had an explanation for why these things were happening, would Clea be able to repair all the damage she had done?
Maybe it's because Gerber is writing from experience. Maybe it's just because she's a great writer. Whichever the case, I must say, that Gerber is so good at writing this type of story.
I loved Clea so much, and my heart went out to her as she was trying to adjust to her new normal. Gerber did an incredible job capturing her emotional ups and downs. First, as Clea was trying to deal with her lack of focus and impulse control, and later as she was coming to terms with her diagnosis and trying to learn to navigate her needs and advocate for herself. I really thought this part was handled wonderfully, and I thought it was important that we saw Clea's successes and setbacks.
I also liked that we saw how Clea's ADHD affected those around her. Clea generally was a wonderful friend and sister, but there were times, when her lack of impulse control got her into trouble. There was one friendship rift, that broke my heart. I liked that Clea never tried to use her ADHD to excuse her behaviors, but rather, as she learned more about her disability, she became more cognizant of her behaviors, and utilized the techniques the doctor equipped her with to curb the interrupting and blurting out, which was causing the friction between herself and her loved ones.
Another thing I thought was great, was how Gerber took us through the whole process - identification, testing, diagnosis, and treatment. There was quite a bit of good information relayed in the book, and it was worked into the story in a very organic way too.
She also showed, that being neurodivergent didn't mean you were broken. It meant that your brain just worked differently. I was really proud of Clea, when she figured out what she needed to succeed. Not only did she figure out what she needed, but she was very mature and asked for these accommodations when necessary. It's so important that people understand they should feel no shame asking for things that will help them succeed.
There were a ton of things I loved, and here's a short list of some of my favorites:
• Clea's friendship with Sanam was really special. They bonded over their love of chess, as well as over their mutual learning disabilities, and Sanam was such a positive force in Clea's life as well. Loved her!
• I never really played chess seriously, but I was so intrigued by all the chess stuff in this book. Gerber was able to transfer some of Clea's excitement to me, which I thought was great.
• There's a little touch of romance in the story, which was so, so sweet and cute and I loved it.
• Clea's little sister was a precious little star. The kid was able to bring happiness to every page she popped up on.
This book was heartwarming and informative. I think it would be a valuable read for a young person trying to come to terms with their own ADHD diagnosis, as well as for those, who love them.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Clea felt like she was failing at EVERYTHING! She was messing up her class assignments, hurting her friends and family - she just couldn't seem to do anything right. After a string of poor grades, her parents had Clea tested and discovered that she has ADHD. Now that she had an explanation for why these things were happening, would Clea be able to repair all the damage she had done?
Maybe it's because Gerber is writing from experience. Maybe it's just because she's a great writer. Whichever the case, I must say, that Gerber is so good at writing this type of story.
I loved Clea so much, and my heart went out to her as she was trying to adjust to her new normal. Gerber did an incredible job capturing her emotional ups and downs. First, as Clea was trying to deal with her lack of focus and impulse control, and later as she was coming to terms with her diagnosis and trying to learn to navigate her needs and advocate for herself. I really thought this part was handled wonderfully, and I thought it was important that we saw Clea's successes and setbacks.
I also liked that we saw how Clea's ADHD affected those around her. Clea generally was a wonderful friend and sister, but there were times, when her lack of impulse control got her into trouble. There was one friendship rift, that broke my heart. I liked that Clea never tried to use her ADHD to excuse her behaviors, but rather, as she learned more about her disability, she became more cognizant of her behaviors, and utilized the techniques the doctor equipped her with to curb the interrupting and blurting out, which was causing the friction between herself and her loved ones.
Another thing I thought was great, was how Gerber took us through the whole process - identification, testing, diagnosis, and treatment. There was quite a bit of good information relayed in the book, and it was worked into the story in a very organic way too.
She also showed, that being neurodivergent didn't mean you were broken. It meant that your brain just worked differently. I was really proud of Clea, when she figured out what she needed to succeed. Not only did she figure out what she needed, but she was very mature and asked for these accommodations when necessary. It's so important that people understand they should feel no shame asking for things that will help them succeed.
There were a ton of things I loved, and here's a short list of some of my favorites:
• Clea's friendship with Sanam was really special. They bonded over their love of chess, as well as over their mutual learning disabilities, and Sanam was such a positive force in Clea's life as well. Loved her!
• I never really played chess seriously, but I was so intrigued by all the chess stuff in this book. Gerber was able to transfer some of Clea's excitement to me, which I thought was great.
• There's a little touch of romance in the story, which was so, so sweet and cute and I loved it.
• Clea's little sister was a precious little star. The kid was able to bring happiness to every page she popped up on.
This book was heartwarming and informative. I think it would be a valuable read for a young person trying to come to terms with their own ADHD diagnosis, as well as for those, who love them.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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January 30, 2024
I'll have to admit that I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. The cover didn't grab me for one thing. But luckily someone from my middle grade book club recommended this book and I ended up enjoying it very much. Clea, the main character, is a loving 7th grade girl who is having some real challenges with school. She's easily distracted so she's falling behind with her school work and she blurts out a lot and divulges friends' secrets when she doesn't mean to at all. So not only is she struggling academically but socially as well. To top it off, her grades are slipping so much that she is risking losing her spot on the chess team, something she's very passionate about. As a teacher, I had many students with ADHD, but of course each child and situation was different. What I really learned from this book though, was how it felt from the child's perspective. The author, herself, was diagnosed with ADHD later in life so she lived much of what she wrote about. It was relatable, realistic and very emotional at times. I think this is an especially important read for teachers, parents and middle school readers and above who have, or know someone who has, ADHD. Very enlightening!
August 31, 2019
What I loved about this book:
The detailed POV of seventh-grade student Clea showing the triggers of her distractibility and emotional outbursts.
How the guidance counselors and psychologists listened to Clea and addressed her needs and concerns.
That the author emphasized that ADHD does not affect intelligence. Those diagnosed are not lazy or dumb.
What I hated about this book:
How Clea's teachers, especially her English teacher, responded to her behaviors and academic struggles. Why would any teacher give an F for a slight misunderstanding of an assignment (see page 44) or on a test for not finishing when the accommodation of extra time is supposed to be allowed (see page 213)??? I realize as a teacher I'm especially sensitive, but do we really want to send a message that teachers are not supportive, that we lack compassion and empathy, that we don't know how to work with students with varying needs?
This book started off with great potential for me, but ended up frustrating me instead. I won't actively recommend this one to students or colleagues.
The detailed POV of seventh-grade student Clea showing the triggers of her distractibility and emotional outbursts.
How the guidance counselors and psychologists listened to Clea and addressed her needs and concerns.
That the author emphasized that ADHD does not affect intelligence. Those diagnosed are not lazy or dumb.
What I hated about this book:
How Clea's teachers, especially her English teacher, responded to her behaviors and academic struggles. Why would any teacher give an F for a slight misunderstanding of an assignment (see page 44) or on a test for not finishing when the accommodation of extra time is supposed to be allowed (see page 213)??? I realize as a teacher I'm especially sensitive, but do we really want to send a message that teachers are not supportive, that we lack compassion and empathy, that we don't know how to work with students with varying needs?
This book started off with great potential for me, but ended up frustrating me instead. I won't actively recommend this one to students or colleagues.
March 8, 2023
4.5 stars
My younger self felt so seen reading this. I have ADHD and absolutley relate to Clea. I had and have some of the same struggles as she does and boy did this book really hit home for me thinking back to my struggles in school. Loved this. SO close to 5 stars but I didnt love seeing the romance/relationship thrown in at the end. Overall loved this though and feel like it's an excellent representation of someone with ADHD. So relatable.
This is all about Clea who is struggling with keeping up with school work and her chess team hobby/practice. Clea's thoughts are out of control, from speaking out of turn, interupting people, getting distracted, not being able to focus, etc. These signs all point to ADHD. She's falling behind and needs help. She goes to the doctor to get evaluated and the story goes on here.
Loved seeing Clea and her family, the support was so nice, her little sister was so sweet, and the book in general was very heartwarming. I liked how the author took us through the entire process of ADHD with the testing too and how Clea's support team was going to put a plan together to work with her and help. Highly recommend.
My younger self felt so seen reading this. I have ADHD and absolutley relate to Clea. I had and have some of the same struggles as she does and boy did this book really hit home for me thinking back to my struggles in school. Loved this. SO close to 5 stars but I didnt love seeing the romance/relationship thrown in at the end. Overall loved this though and feel like it's an excellent representation of someone with ADHD. So relatable.
This is all about Clea who is struggling with keeping up with school work and her chess team hobby/practice. Clea's thoughts are out of control, from speaking out of turn, interupting people, getting distracted, not being able to focus, etc. These signs all point to ADHD. She's falling behind and needs help. She goes to the doctor to get evaluated and the story goes on here.
Loved seeing Clea and her family, the support was so nice, her little sister was so sweet, and the book in general was very heartwarming. I liked how the author took us through the entire process of ADHD with the testing too and how Clea's support team was going to put a plan together to work with her and help. Highly recommend.
May 12, 2021
Just an adorable book. It gave me some insights on ADHD and speech problems. I read this because I'm on a chess kick, and there was enough to keep me interested. As an example, the knight moving clop, clop, clop. It's nice to read a book about a loving family. This book was a very happy accident
November 9, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for FOCUSED by @alysongerber, which doesn't come out until 3/26/19. Big thanks to Alyson and @scholasticinc for sharing this ARC with me (and #kidlitexchange) for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
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Clea is gifted at chess, a good friend and an excellent big sister to Henley, who struggles with a communication disorder. Oh, and Clea also has problems focusing and it's starting to have a serious impact on her work. #focusedthebook is the story of a middle grade girl discovering that she has ADHD...which brings up many emotions and only complicates her life further. Should she go on medication? Can she learn to control her emotions and stop blurting things out? Clea is a smart student who is drowning in assignments and confused about whether she even has ADHD -- how could it have been missed for so long?
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I can't think of another middle grade book out there that goes so deep into the thoughts and emotions of someone who struggles with ADHD. This #ownvoices book has the potential to help kids who have ADHD understand themselves better and will also illuminate the struggle of ADHD for others. FOCUSED addresses misconceptions about ADHD, as well as the gifts associated with it like hyper focus on preferred topics. .
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This was a very personal, emotional read for me. As someone who supports and parents a child who has ADHD, I understand many of these issues and the complicated nature of how ADHD can manifest; seeing the world from Clea's perspective was both illuminating and heartbreaking. There's a moment in the book where Clea admits her emotions took over and she impulsively said something she shouldn't have--you can just hear her heartbreak when she admits "it happens a lot." Statistics show that girls are often diagnosed with ADHD at a later age because they often present a different, less disruptive form of ADHD. It is no less debilitating, which Gerber shares in her honest and revealing Author's Note. I hope #focusedthebook helps students, parents and teachers better understand ADHD-- big thanks to @alysongerber for sharing her story. ❤️
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Clea is gifted at chess, a good friend and an excellent big sister to Henley, who struggles with a communication disorder. Oh, and Clea also has problems focusing and it's starting to have a serious impact on her work. #focusedthebook is the story of a middle grade girl discovering that she has ADHD...which brings up many emotions and only complicates her life further. Should she go on medication? Can she learn to control her emotions and stop blurting things out? Clea is a smart student who is drowning in assignments and confused about whether she even has ADHD -- how could it have been missed for so long?
.
〰️
〰️
I can't think of another middle grade book out there that goes so deep into the thoughts and emotions of someone who struggles with ADHD. This #ownvoices book has the potential to help kids who have ADHD understand themselves better and will also illuminate the struggle of ADHD for others. FOCUSED addresses misconceptions about ADHD, as well as the gifts associated with it like hyper focus on preferred topics. .
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This was a very personal, emotional read for me. As someone who supports and parents a child who has ADHD, I understand many of these issues and the complicated nature of how ADHD can manifest; seeing the world from Clea's perspective was both illuminating and heartbreaking. There's a moment in the book where Clea admits her emotions took over and she impulsively said something she shouldn't have--you can just hear her heartbreak when she admits "it happens a lot." Statistics show that girls are often diagnosed with ADHD at a later age because they often present a different, less disruptive form of ADHD. It is no less debilitating, which Gerber shares in her honest and revealing Author's Note. I hope #focusedthebook helps students, parents and teachers better understand ADHD-- big thanks to @alysongerber for sharing her story. ❤️
November 29, 2018
Note: I received an ARC of Focused via a book sharing group in exchange for my honest review.
Author Alyson Gerber uses her own experiences with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to portray Clea's struggles in school and with relationships with friends and family. Clea's passion is chess, but her struggles elsewhere impact her playing too.
While I enjoyed Focused, I also found it a touch long for the message and I had grown a touch weary of Clea. The novel started to feel contrived and just a vehicle to teach the reader more about ADHD, which I'm not sure young readers will appreciate. I also found the suddenness of Clea's struggles unbelievable, as well as how tidily everything gets wrapped up.
Focused is a good book overall. As many students will identify with Clea, it is an important to include in a library serving students in grades 5-7.
Author Alyson Gerber uses her own experiences with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to portray Clea's struggles in school and with relationships with friends and family. Clea's passion is chess, but her struggles elsewhere impact her playing too.
While I enjoyed Focused, I also found it a touch long for the message and I had grown a touch weary of Clea. The novel started to feel contrived and just a vehicle to teach the reader more about ADHD, which I'm not sure young readers will appreciate. I also found the suddenness of Clea's struggles unbelievable, as well as how tidily everything gets wrapped up.
Focused is a good book overall. As many students will identify with Clea, it is an important to include in a library serving students in grades 5-7.
July 14, 2019
A great book to help understand ADHD. Powerful in helping teens learn to self-advocate.
September 10, 2022
I really enjoyed this book about ADHD. Clea is a great character.
October 24, 2018
In Alyson Gerber’s first novel Braced, readers were given the opportunity to learn the story of Rachel Brooks, a middle grades student who has scoliosis but also who has persistence and resilience. Rachel learns to re-see herself and her strengths, and she provided, for many readers, a mirror to their lives and the chance to see themselves and their struggles valued in a novel. And maybe more importantly, Braced gave readers who have not had to face such challenges an awareness, empathy, and understanding for those who do.
In the same way, Gerber’s new novel Focused shares the story of Clea Adams, a seventh grader who has ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Clea works as hard as she can on her schoolwork but just cannot seem to complete all the tasks; she doesn’t always follow directions, finish assignments, or remember what she needs to do. She feels that she isn’t trying hard enough or isn’t smart enough to achieve. She is also affected socially as she blurts out whatever she is thinking, interrupting conversations and sharing the secrets of others.
Luckily, on the plus side, she has a best friend Red, a new girlfriend Sanam, a supportive family, and she is really good at chess, which she loves. Chess is the one activity where she seems to be able to focus. But when her lack of focus and impulsivity cause her to lose her friendship with Red and possibly forfeit her chance to remain on the chess team, Clea needs to take action. She is tested for ADHD and learns that it is her condition that controls her actions, rather than lack of intelligence or willingness to support her friends.
Clea learns that she needs to follow the advice of her psychiatrist, parents, and school counselor and to advocate for herself. “I don’t notice if anyone starts whispering about me when I walk back into the room, but I don’t care if they do, because for the first time all year, I got exactly what I needed and I know for sure I did my best.” (262)
According to the American Psychiatric Association, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. As of August 2018, an estimated 10 percent of children (over 6 million school-age children) had been diagnosed with ADHD. And that is why this novel offers not only a good story, but is important for children with ADHD and those who love, live, and work with them to read. As Braced, Focused will provide not only support for some readers who see their struggles valued in a novel but a map to navigate the difficulties of functioning with ADHD, and for others it will provide understanding of, and empathy for, those friends, family, and peers who may be facing some of Clea’s challenges.
In the same way, Gerber’s new novel Focused shares the story of Clea Adams, a seventh grader who has ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Clea works as hard as she can on her schoolwork but just cannot seem to complete all the tasks; she doesn’t always follow directions, finish assignments, or remember what she needs to do. She feels that she isn’t trying hard enough or isn’t smart enough to achieve. She is also affected socially as she blurts out whatever she is thinking, interrupting conversations and sharing the secrets of others.
Luckily, on the plus side, she has a best friend Red, a new girlfriend Sanam, a supportive family, and she is really good at chess, which she loves. Chess is the one activity where she seems to be able to focus. But when her lack of focus and impulsivity cause her to lose her friendship with Red and possibly forfeit her chance to remain on the chess team, Clea needs to take action. She is tested for ADHD and learns that it is her condition that controls her actions, rather than lack of intelligence or willingness to support her friends.
Clea learns that she needs to follow the advice of her psychiatrist, parents, and school counselor and to advocate for herself. “I don’t notice if anyone starts whispering about me when I walk back into the room, but I don’t care if they do, because for the first time all year, I got exactly what I needed and I know for sure I did my best.” (262)
According to the American Psychiatric Association, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. As of August 2018, an estimated 10 percent of children (over 6 million school-age children) had been diagnosed with ADHD. And that is why this novel offers not only a good story, but is important for children with ADHD and those who love, live, and work with them to read. As Braced, Focused will provide not only support for some readers who see their struggles valued in a novel but a map to navigate the difficulties of functioning with ADHD, and for others it will provide understanding of, and empathy for, those friends, family, and peers who may be facing some of Clea’s challenges.
January 19, 2019
Note: I received an ARC of Focused via a book sharing group in exchange for my honest review.
Clea is a middle grade student who has a passion for chess but is struggling with her school life. No matter how hard she tries she cant seem to complete assignments on time or properly. She has difficulty staying organized and she has on more than one occasion blurted out comments that have impacted her relationships with friends and members of her chess club. This struggle to stay on top of everything has come to the attention of her parents who decide to have her tested for ADHD. Once diagnosed Clea gains an understanding of her strengths and challenges and begins her own journey of how to not only live but thrive with her condition.
Alyson Gerber provided me with the closest experience of what I think it may be like to have ADHD. In the opening chapter, we get a glimpse into the mind of Clea who jumps from one idea to another in the blink of an eye yet is trying so hard to focus and stay organized at school. What I liked about the novel is how Clea had to discover and look after herself and her own learning with many bumps along the way. I also enjoyed the fact that Clea was passionate about chess and could see certain students who would enjoy this aspect of the story as well. I appreciated the author's note at the end and the explanation that testing and the journey itself may have been sped up. Finally, another book where kids can see themselves in a number of ways from the difficulties of friendships, to the first kiss, to dealing with family issues.
Clea is a middle grade student who has a passion for chess but is struggling with her school life. No matter how hard she tries she cant seem to complete assignments on time or properly. She has difficulty staying organized and she has on more than one occasion blurted out comments that have impacted her relationships with friends and members of her chess club. This struggle to stay on top of everything has come to the attention of her parents who decide to have her tested for ADHD. Once diagnosed Clea gains an understanding of her strengths and challenges and begins her own journey of how to not only live but thrive with her condition.
Alyson Gerber provided me with the closest experience of what I think it may be like to have ADHD. In the opening chapter, we get a glimpse into the mind of Clea who jumps from one idea to another in the blink of an eye yet is trying so hard to focus and stay organized at school. What I liked about the novel is how Clea had to discover and look after herself and her own learning with many bumps along the way. I also enjoyed the fact that Clea was passionate about chess and could see certain students who would enjoy this aspect of the story as well. I appreciated the author's note at the end and the explanation that testing and the journey itself may have been sped up. Finally, another book where kids can see themselves in a number of ways from the difficulties of friendships, to the first kiss, to dealing with family issues.
February 27, 2019
*Review is of an advanced reader copy
Having not experienced ADHD myself I appreciated this middle grade novel about Clea, a middle school student struggling to mange her increasing workload amid her inability to avoid distractions and stay on task. Clea is eventually diagnosed with ADHD and must come to terms with her condition and work out how to handle her school work. Through intervention from a compassionate doctor, a helpful school advocate, dedicated parents, and medication, Clea begins to feel hope for her future.
Though not quite as well crafted as Lynda Mullay Hunt's fabulous Fish in a Tree, I do appreciate this glimpse at the inner workings of one young girl's mind and feel better equipped to assist students with similar issues. I would recommend Focused to children dealing with ADHD, their parents, and any teachers who think they could benefit from learning more about the students in their classrooms.
Having not experienced ADHD myself I appreciated this middle grade novel about Clea, a middle school student struggling to mange her increasing workload amid her inability to avoid distractions and stay on task. Clea is eventually diagnosed with ADHD and must come to terms with her condition and work out how to handle her school work. Through intervention from a compassionate doctor, a helpful school advocate, dedicated parents, and medication, Clea begins to feel hope for her future.
Though not quite as well crafted as Lynda Mullay Hunt's fabulous Fish in a Tree, I do appreciate this glimpse at the inner workings of one young girl's mind and feel better equipped to assist students with similar issues. I would recommend Focused to children dealing with ADHD, their parents, and any teachers who think they could benefit from learning more about the students in their classrooms.
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February 20, 2019This book is intense in the very best way. From page one, I was RIGHT THERE with Clea, who is trying SO hard to keep up with her school work and be the kind of friend and sister she wants to be. Clea finds out partway into the book that she has ADHD, and her story offers such a compassionate, immersive look at what it’s like to manage middle school with ADHD. I felt Clea’s frustrations and worries with her. I saw so clearly how her brain works and the challenges and strengths she has because of her ADHD. Clea is strong, kind, and impossible not to root for. I really wish I’d been able to read this book when I was teaching middle school because it would have helped me better understand some of my students. This is a must-buy for middle-grade collections. It’s going to mean a lot to many kids who will feel so validated by Clea’s story.
March 3, 2020
I personally loved this book. Mostly because the main character had a difficult time in school and in her personal life with having ADHD but when she started to spoke out everything turn around for her, and she found things a lot easier to handle. I would recommend this book someone who likes reading books where people find who they really are, and express themselves.
July 20, 2022
A beautiful and important story about discovering identity, navigating ADHD, and surviving the trials and tribulations of middle school friendship. I loved the chess plot line, which kept me rooting for Clea all the way, even when things got really tough. An important middle grade story that offers comfort and hope in abundance!
September 24, 2018
Oh, I so adored this. Gerber perfectly captures the mind of a girl with ADHD and balances it so well with Clea’s family and friend struggles. I love the supporting cast, too.
March 25, 2021
3.5 STARS
Though Clea excels at chess, she has difficulty in school. Testing confirms she had ADHD and she learns coping mechanisms.
FOCUSED is a good introduction to different types of ADHD, which often presents differently in girls than boys. Alyson Gerber does a great job presenting the testing and diagnosis process though the perfect acceptance from her parents, teachers and peers (except for a mean girl) is unrealistic. A learning and acceptance curve is nearly always the case.
Though Clea is in seventh grade, the book is geared toward younger kids though the parts about specific chess moves will probably bore them (and older readers).
Though Clea excels at chess, she has difficulty in school. Testing confirms she had ADHD and she learns coping mechanisms.
FOCUSED is a good introduction to different types of ADHD, which often presents differently in girls than boys. Alyson Gerber does a great job presenting the testing and diagnosis process though the perfect acceptance from her parents, teachers and peers (except for a mean girl) is unrealistic. A learning and acceptance curve is nearly always the case.
Though Clea is in seventh grade, the book is geared toward younger kids though the parts about specific chess moves will probably bore them (and older readers).
June 27, 2023
Finished this awesome book by @alysongerber last night! This will be perfect for girls with ADHD as the main character is diagnosed with it and learns to advocate for herself- in a totally interesting, age appropriate way. And she plays chess! #bookstagram #teacherswhoread
July 17, 2019
...will resonate with kids and SHOULD resonate with teachers
...lots of practical suggestions for managing ADHD
...lots of practical suggestions for managing ADHD
June 23, 2023
This book is really good for anyone with ADHD who needs to feel less alone in the world. Clea's struggles are entirely relatable to the point where you can tell the author has experience with it. It almost feels like a wish fulfillment fantasy at times, since the adults in her life ALL work to help with accommodations and her mom in particular tells her that she's working on changing the way she talks to Clea so that she isn't exacerbating anxiety issues. This isn't necessarily a bad thing because given the target audience of the book, one can make the argument that that's the point. This is what SHOULD be the case for children with ADHD, and giving them insight into that is so, so important, especially since there are still people out there who don't believe that it's even a thing.
October 15, 2018
E-ARC provided by Edelweiss
This should be required reading for teachers of middle grade readers. As she did with Braced, this author has raised my awareness of an issue (this time it is ADHD) by providing me with a window (term from Dr. Simms Bishop) into the life of a typical middle school student. Her discriptions of needing quiet, time management, and organization will stay with me for a while. The information shared about this diagnosis brings much needed information to readers.
Librarians, preorder this now.
This should be required reading for teachers of middle grade readers. As she did with Braced, this author has raised my awareness of an issue (this time it is ADHD) by providing me with a window (term from Dr. Simms Bishop) into the life of a typical middle school student. Her discriptions of needing quiet, time management, and organization will stay with me for a while. The information shared about this diagnosis brings much needed information to readers.
Librarians, preorder this now.
June 21, 2019
This was really hard to read at the beginning because of the great job the author did portraying the main character's scattered thinking and disorganization. She's a train wreck. The parts where the psychologist and psychiatrist explain ADHD and the testing process were also slow. It was worth it for the end, when the meds and the strategies start working and she is able to start being successful in school and mending some relationships that she damaged with her impulsivity. She is even able to advocate for herself. I like that she has a little sister with a speech problem, and how her passion for chess is woven throughout the story. They are seventh graders and there is a bit of romance (one first kiss), but I still think its an important book to have in my 5th grade class library.
January 21, 2019
Thank you to Alyson Gerber for sharing a review copy of Focused with Collabookation.
Clea is falling behind in all of her classes, and it isn't for lack of trying. She finds herself constantly playing catchup, but when she sits down to work, she perseverates on the sounds around her or her latest mistake. After some evaluations and observations, Clea learns that she has ADHD. So begins a book in which Clea must learn how to be herself when that can often be a challenging task.
Alyson Gerber grew up with the difficulties of ADHD before she knew what it was called, and we are lucky for that. Gerber beautifully, albeit sadly, captures the feelings of struggle, failure, and isolation a middle schooler with ADHD may experience. Clea works hard, but it never seems to be enough. Clea's saving grace is her strong support network: her family, friends, teachers, and doctors.
No one in Clea's life says her path will be easy, but everyone acknowledges her efforts to do well, academically and socially. In Focused, Clea learns that we only lose when we give up on ourselves.
Recommended for fifth grade and above, I'm excited to booktalk Focused because every child struggles in different ways, but Clea does so with dedication and tenacity.
Clea is falling behind in all of her classes, and it isn't for lack of trying. She finds herself constantly playing catchup, but when she sits down to work, she perseverates on the sounds around her or her latest mistake. After some evaluations and observations, Clea learns that she has ADHD. So begins a book in which Clea must learn how to be herself when that can often be a challenging task.
Alyson Gerber grew up with the difficulties of ADHD before she knew what it was called, and we are lucky for that. Gerber beautifully, albeit sadly, captures the feelings of struggle, failure, and isolation a middle schooler with ADHD may experience. Clea works hard, but it never seems to be enough. Clea's saving grace is her strong support network: her family, friends, teachers, and doctors.
No one in Clea's life says her path will be easy, but everyone acknowledges her efforts to do well, academically and socially. In Focused, Clea learns that we only lose when we give up on ourselves.
Recommended for fifth grade and above, I'm excited to booktalk Focused because every child struggles in different ways, but Clea does so with dedication and tenacity.
March 21, 2021
Focused is a moving exploration of a child’s life with ADHD. It deflates stereotypes about the condition and shows just how much effort people with ADHD have to exert to function in a neurotypical world. With an unforgettable voice and strong themes of friendship, family, and crossing over from childhood to teenage years, Focused is a memorable read. I would strongly recommend this one for anyone curious about ADHD, chess lovers, and anyone who’s ever squabbled with a best friend.
To see more of what I loved, read my review on my blog.
To see more of what I loved, read my review on my blog.
March 13, 2021
I loved this book. Alyson has a real gift for capturing the essence and emotions of middle school. The characters are relatable and real. I also learned things about ADHD that I did not know before and it gave me things to think about for when my own children get older and they are navigating this stage of life.
June 14, 2019
Too lesson heavy. Everyone said everything perfectly, everyone learned their lesson, everything ended up perfectly. Not very realistic. And Clea's super low self esteem was annoying.
December 27, 2019
I read up to page 50 and it didn't grab me. I feel like the voice was probably spot on, but her negative self-talk and overwhelming sense of despair felt like too much.
January 18, 2023
A good solid story about what it's like to have ADHD, the inattentive type, and then how it was managed.
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