Description
Addy has worn hearing aids for as long as she can remember.
Her mother tells her this makes her special, but now that Addy's in grade six, she wants to be special for what she's done. When Addy joins the school running club to keep her best friend, Lucy, company, she discovers she is a gifted runner. Lucy isn't, which is problematic. Further troubles surface when Addy gets paired on a school project with Sierra, a smart, self-assured new classmate who wears a cochlear implant. Addy is surprised to discover hearing loss is all they have in common—and a shared disability is not enough of a foundation for a friendship. True friends support each other, even if they have different passions and dreams. More importantly, Addy comes to understand that she is defined by more than her hearing loss. She has the power to choose how people will see her, and she does.
Prizes
- Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book AwardShort-listed 2012
Review Quotes
"Waldman has developed a main character who is truly believable...Debby lets readers get to know Addy by allowing readers access to her constant diatribe of thoughts on every event in the story. Hilarious! After working with this age level for many years, it is clear to me that author Waldman understands young people very well. Addy's Race is a story that will capture a young reader's interest and keep it because the story is so true to the thoughts, feelings and experiences of kids in upper elementary and middle school. Highly Recommended."
— CM: Canadian Review of Materials