DAISY WOODWORM CHANGES THE WORLD

An eighth grader grapples with a daunting project: changing the world.

Ever since her mom lost her bookkeeping job, 13-year-old aspiring entomologist Daisy Woodward—dubbed Woodworm by Devon, the school bully who mocks her lisp—has felt unimportant. Her parents, now self-employed as dog walkers, can’t spend much time with her anymore. And now Daisy has to look after her beloved older brother, Squirrel, who has Down syndrome, more often. So when Mr. Lipinsky, her social studies teacher, tasks her class with creating projects that will change the world, she panics. How can someone like her make a difference? How can she survive giving an oral report? Finally, inspiration strikes: She’ll help Squirrel achieve his dream of becoming a famous YouTube fashion influencer. But their overprotective parents have forbidden Squirrel from using social media after a cyberbullying incident. To make Squirrel’s dream a reality, Daisy will need help from an unlikely ally: Devon’s best friend, Miguel. Hart, who has a lisp and a brother with Down syndrome herself, sensitively explores topics such as bullying, economic hardship, and forgiveness. Though Mr. Lipinsky heavily treads the inspirational teacher trope, kindhearted Squirrel is refreshingly multifaceted, and Daisy’s loving but strained relationship with her parents is poignantly portrayed. Daisy and Miguel are cued Mexican American; Devon reads White.

An uplifting story of family, community, and friendship.