Description

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In this heartfelt middle-grade novel from debut author Nicole D. Collier, fifth-grader Jillian must learn to speak and break free of her shell to enter her school's academic competition and keep her promise to her grandmother. 

Fifth-grader Jillian will do just about anything to blend in, including staying quiet even when she has the right answer. After she loses a classroom competition because she won't speak up, she sets her mind on winning her school's biggest competition. But breaking out of her shell is easier said than done, and Jillian has only a month to keep her promise to her grandmother and prove to herself that she can speak up and show everyone her true self. 

A warm and relatable middle-grade debut novel about family, friendship, and finding the confidence to break free from the crowd and be who you truly are. 

About the Author

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Nicole D. Collier, Ph.D. is a former elementary school teacher turned executive coach. She’s also a non-competitive runner and salsera, and has been known to turn cartwheels from time to time. The Georgia native writes contemporary middle grade fiction. 

Praise For…

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"Jillian perfectly encapsulates the contradicting feelings of adolescence, and her attempts to forge her own path and find her identity will be instantly relatable to anyone who has ever felt shy or small.”—School Library Journal   “A heartwarming novel about developing the courage to stop hiding.”—Kirkus Reviews     “This relatable and emotional novel reminds readers that everyone might be fighting their own private battles and that losing or failing at something doesn’t mean you’re not a winner.”—Booklist   
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