Slug Days

Gr 3–6—Lauren, who has Asperger's syndrome, has trouble reading social cues, doesn't always understand what her classmates are thinking, and gets into fights. Sometimes she has "slug days," where she feels slow, slimy, and like no one understands her. But sometimes she has "butterfly days," where she gets a sticker at school for being well-behaved and shares an ice cream with her mom afterwards. With the help of her routines, her squishy ball, and her special strawberry eraser, Lauren learns to manage her feelings, and eventually makes a new friend at school. There is humor peppered throughout the story as Lauren learns to deal with her slobbery baby sister and tries not to "flip her lid." There is conflict, as her teacher and classmates learn to accept Lauren's differences. The frequent illustrations will assist readers in understanding Lauren's feelings.