On the Bright Side

SCHNEIDER FAMILY AWARD HONOR BOOK • A hopeful novel about two teenagers who end up catching the curveballs life keeps throwing at them as high school, disabilities, and a surprise diagnosis upend their lives.

“A poignant, romantic, and deeply heartfelt story of resilience in the face of life’s most challenging and unpredictable circumstances.”—Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be

“Tender, honest, and utterly human, On the Bright Side is a sparkling story that reminds us to live life on our own terms, even when it throws us a curveball.”—Adib Khorram, award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Ellie’s Deaf boarding school just shut down, forcing her to leave the place she considered home and return to her hearing family. But being mainstreamed into public school isn’t exactly easy. So her guidance counselor pairs her with Jackson, a student who’s supposed to help her adjust. Can the boy who tries to say the right things, and gets it all wrong, be the lifeline Ellie needs?

Jackson has been avoiding his teammates ever since some numbness in his legs cost them an important soccer match. With his senior year off to a lonely start, he’s intrigued when he’s asked to help the new girl, initially thinking it will be a commendable move on his part. Little does he know Ellie will be the person he wants most by his side when the strange symptoms he’s experiencing amount to a life-changing diagnosis.

Exploring what it means to build community, Anna Sortino pens a story about the fear of the unknown and the beauty of the unexpected, all wrapped up in a poignant romance that will break your heart and put it back together again.