Can life be over for a 5th grader? When Maple Mehta-Cohen learns that she will be held back for a second year in 5th grade, she is fairly certain her life is over. How was she to know the secret she had been keeping from her family and friends would end up causing this disaster? Maple can't read.
Maple's teacher breaks the news to Maple's parents by saying the school believes Maple needs to repeat the 5th grade so her reading skills can improve before she begins middle school. This is definitely news to her parents, and she realizes it will be news to her best friends who will be moving on to 6th grade in a few short weeks. How will she ever explain things to them?
It turns out Maple has characteristics of dyslexia. That explains why words look like little moving snakes shifting around on the page. Maple knows she has always been a slow reader, and she has always sort of copied her way through assignments so no one would know just how difficult reading was for her. Not only will she be in 5th grade again, she will be going to work in the library with the other kids in the low reading group.
Author Kate McGovern captures the fear and frustration of someone hiding a secret like Maple. Thinking everyone will think less of her and fearing her parents will be disappointed to have a kid who isn't smart, Maple believes she is living a nightmare. Readers of all abilities will learn from Maple and her experiences.
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