Chapter 1 - 5

Ally Nickerson struggles in school, especially with reading, and often distracts teachers to hide her difficulties. She gives her teacher a sympathy card with a yellow flower, not realizing it will upset her, which shows her misunderstanding of social cues. We learn she feels disliked by classmates and worries her mother doesn’t understand how bad things are at school. Shay, a classmate, is introduced as mean-spirited and quick to judge. This section sets up Ally’s sense of isolation and the secret she’s trying to keep about her struggles.

Chapters 1 - 3