Sticks & Stones

A middle-school girl with a very unusual skin condition learns how words can hurt—and heal—in this “quirky, clever and lighthearted” debut ( School Library Journal ). Ever since she was a baby, the words people use to describe Elyse have instantly appeared on her arms and legs. At first it was just “cute” and “adorable,” but as she’s gotten older and kids have gotten meaner, words like “loser” and “pathetic” appear, and those words bubble up and itch. And then there are words like “interesting,”