In My Own Superpowers, all Melanie wants is to be a normal tween girl. Unfortunately, her 7th grade year starts off just like every other year – a disorganized mess. Just when she thinks things can’t get any worse, she learns she has ADHD and worries everyone “will think I’m stupid!”
With the support of family, friends and even some new friends, Melanie learns that it’s not about being stupid or smart, but about figuring out how your brain works and what your superpowers are. My Own Superpowers follows Melanie as she struggles with this new diagnosis. Between working on a stage with new crush Aiden to intimate conversations with her mom, teacher and therapist, she learns that every person has their own superpowers, even girls with ADHD.
Below is an excerpt from the middle of my book, My Own Superpowers:
September 18, Wednesday
Dear friend? EW that’s worse than the last one!
English was a serious bomb. I forgot to do the homework … again. And it wasn’t that I did it and didn’t submit it, I completely forgot to do it. The worst part was when Mrs. Kane discussed it in class, I knew all the answers anyway. They were easy. Thankfully, I was prepared for the social studies quiz. It took me almost two hours last night study, but I did it.
“Melanie, can I speak with you after class?” Mrs. Kane asks as she passes out a review packet for a test next week.
I nod then sink down in my seat. I know it’s about the homework. Eva looks over. Jerk, I think.
As Mrs. Kane discusses the packet, I dread what she has to say. All I hear is the echo of footsteps in the hallway as each person passes by. The clicking of heals, especially the high heels, creates a rhythm in my head – click click click click click. My brain alternates between the occasional rhythm of clicks, and Mrs. Kane discussing the book.
I’m pulled back to class when I hear her discuss my favorite character in the book, Jim, and his struggle with impulsiveness. I like him because he kind of sounds like me.
When the bell rings, I slowly gather my things. I finally shuffle my way up to Mrs. Kane through a swarm of kids going in the opposite direction.
“Is everything ok Melanie?” she asks. “You forgot to submit the homework again.”
“Sorry,” I look down.
“Did you do it this time and forget to submit it?” she presses.
“No,” I say, mad at myself. “I completely forgot.”
“I’ll let it go this time but please remember to do it,” she says. “I know you understood the book because your previous answers were spot on.”
“Thanks,” I say, and rush off to math just as my stomach goes into a high-gear ache.
My day slowly gets better. My stomach seems to have calmed down by lunch. I nibble at my sandwich as I chat with Kate, Mia and Sophie.
“That was a nice set you did the other night at practice,” Mia looks in my direction. “You’re really good at that.”
“Thanks,” I say as I nibble. “You had an awesome spike afterward. You’re lucky you’re so tall!”
“You really are lucky Mia,” Sophie agrees. She’s one of the shorter girls on the team. “I wish I could spike it over the net like you can.”
We start talking about the upcoming game this weekend when I remember the quiz in Social Studies. I hope I studied enough.
I start running through the terms in my head when I hear, “… yeah, the cupcakes turned out great. Right Melanie?”
They all look at me. I’m mid-bite in my sandwich and clearly off in dream world. They all giggle. Even I laugh.
“The cupcakes,” says Kate again. “They were surprisingly good?”
“Yup,” I say, covering my mouth so they don’t see the food in it. I swallow and say, “It was one of Kate’s better ideas.”
“Aiden liked them too,” says Kate. “But then again, he’ll eat anything.”
We all laugh.
“He even liked the caramel one,” I tell Kate.
“Really?” she says. “That one was way too sweet for me.”
“Boys will eat ANYTHING,” says Mia. “You should see my brother!”
“Hey,” I say, changing the subject. “Did you guys take the social studies quiz yet?”
“Yup,” Mia says. “It’s not bad. Just know the terms and you’re fine.”
“Good,” I say. “I need to make up for my botched answer the other day.” I roll my eyes.
“What hap-” Mia starts to ask, but the bell rings and we scatter to our final classes.
As I walk to class, I try to find the sheet with all the terms so I can quickly review before the quiz. I flip through my notebook trying to find it when I slam into something hard.
“Ooof,” emerges from my mouth as my book gets shoved into my stomach. I look up to see Aiden, just as shocked as I am.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry Aiden,” I proclaim. “I was trying to find something in my notebook and didn’t see you.”
“It’s ok,” he says as he rubs his elbow. Clearly another casualty of the collision. “I’ve had worse hits before.”
We walk the last few steps together to social studies and take our seats. He grins at me from across the room. Hmmmm, he looks different.
Before I can get any further in my thoughts, Mr. Jordan walks into the room. Instant panic.
I didn’t review the words before class as planned, so I quickly flip through my notebook. This time I’m successful in locating the terms sheet. I glance through them as fast as I can while he passes out the quiz.
I need this win. Please, oh Please, I think, let me do well.
Holding my pencil I look down at the quiz. Ten terms. There’s a lot of space between them. Does he expect us to fill those gaps entirely up with definitions? Oh no, and there’s a bonus question. MIGRATION!
Well, I know one word to put there for now. I write down move. Then go back to the top. I start with the words I know really well. My answers aren’t long, so I write a little bigger to fill in the space. Does he want examples? Did he discuss examples?
Click click click click click. High pitched clicks. I look up. There goes Mrs. Kane in the hallway.
I write answers down, erase, and write again. Why do all these eraser pieces keep sticking to my paper after I erase something? I keep brushing them off.
Click click click … it’s like Olivia’s metronome on top of the piano to keep her rhythm. I look up and see another teacher walk by.
I write some answers, thinking they’re right. Hoping that they’re right. Unfortunately they look more like phrases than sentences. Well, too late to question myself.
I look up and see Mr. Jordan organizing his desk. He looks up and I immediately look down at my quiz. It’s so quiet I can hear the pencils scratching across the papers.
I look down and write another phrase. Why can’t I seem write full sentences?
I hear some kids get up to pass in their quizes. People are done? Oh gosh. More and more people pass them in. Almost everyone is done.
I start to rush because I hate always being the last one to finish. Just as I’m about to get up I see one word at the bottom that I had forgotten about: move. I quickly add around. Then it comes to me and I also add, from one area to another. I put my pencil down and pass it in, happy just to be done with it.
Once everyone is done, Mr. Jordan finishes the class with a video about how scientists believe early humans made their tools. It’s really interesting to see how they banged stones together at angles to get a sharp edge. I almost want to try it at home and start thinking about it as the video ends.
In the hall Aiden catches-up with me. “How do you think you did on the quiz?” he asks.
“I think I did ok,” I say, secretly adding I hope!
“I laughed when I saw the bonus question,” he adds. “I thought of you.”
I look at him and start to turn red. Then I see Kate at my locker.
She gives me a funny look, then says, “Aiden, my mom is picking me up today because I have a dentist appointment. She said she’d drop you at the end of our street if you want a ride. It’s on our way.”
“Sure!” he exclaims. “I just need to swing by my locker.” He touches my arm and says “Bye!”
“Bye!” Kate calls back too, as they quickly run off.
He thought of me? Did he just touch my arm? I feel like I’m moving in slow motion as I digest what he just said and did, until I realize if I don’t start moving, I’ll miss the bus!