What an emotional and empowering story! McGhee introduces us to a girl and how she is able to take events and make them a part of the past with the help of some unexpected friends, including a cat, a librarian and a new boy at school. The book is so easily consumable. Besides that the book itself is short, it also has short chapters so that readers can quickly get through just one chapter at a time. It is also a topic that readily captures the readers’ attention. With themes of bravery, friendship, coping, healing and resilience WSS is a sure bet for one you will want to add to your library.

Weird Sad and Silent by Alison McGhee is a touching novel about Daisy, a quiet girl who struggles with trauma from her mother's abusive ex-boyfriend. She copes by staying silent, counting numbers, and keeping to herself, earning the cruel nickname "Weird Sad and Silent" from classmates. Daisy finds comfort in a stray cat she names Rumble Paws and the kindness of a librarian. When Austin, a new student, befriends her, she slowly begins to open up. He stands up for her and helps her regain confidence. Through their friendship, Daisy starts to heal and embrace her own strength, learning that she is more than her past. The book explores themes of resilience, healing, and self-acceptance.

Alison McGhee writes heartbreaking books. I adore them to pieces. But they often leave my heart in pieces too.

Weird Sad and Silent made my heart ache. It started off so sad. Daisy is a 10 year old girl who is mostly silent, and counts to cope with anxiety ridden situations. It's a habit she developed to cope with the trauma she experienced in a prior living situation. While things have gotten better at home, Daisy suffers from PTSD and sticks to herself. Unfortunately, this makes her the target of two bullies who tend to pick on the kids at school who are a little different.

Things change when a new boy moves to the school and befriends Daisy. And we see Daisy start to shine and grow. She has always accepted this side of herself, but through this new friendship, and as time and distance help her through her past trauma, she discovers her voice.

She also realizes that maybe the bullies are the way they are because they themselves are scared of being bullied.

An important and touching story that has McGhee's signature style.

This is a quick read and a quiet reflection of a girl working through trauma and dealing with bullies. I appreciated how heavily realistic it was--no grand ovations or "everybody clapped" moments, just hard work that pays off as Daisy continues showing patience to her future cat Rumble Paws and letting people become her friend. The depiction of Daisy's anxiety felt realistic. That's what I keep coming back to, how realistic this book was. Daisy's fear and anxiety felt real, as did her patience and her small revelations. For example, there's no big comeuppance for the bullies, just like there usually isn't--just friendships to address the isolation that makes lonely kids targets.

The style is a mix of reflective and brisk with short chapters. It's a strong pick for upper elementary/lower middle grade readers.

Regrettably, I can’t say anything nice about Weird Sad and Silent. The writing is extremely patronizing and the main character acts much younger than a ten-year-old.

This was an emotionally heavy read, featuring a main character who sees herself as invisible except when she is being bullied or with a few select people. Even if one cannot relate to her exact situation, I feel like most middle grade readers could relate to the sentiments depicted in the story. Even with as emotionally heavy as this story is, there is focus on hopes for the future, which I found particularly heartening.

This was a great book about bullying, trauma, friendship, and trust. Daisy has had to deal with mom’s ex-boyfriend and is now being called names at school and so she counts to calm herself. When new student, Austin, starts at her school he helps her deal with the bullying, and the two become friends. Daisy is also trying to befriend a feral cat and over time he slowly begins to trust her.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the book as it had topics of friendship, resilience, and supportive adults for the main character. Overall I think the book has great themes and the character was supported by showing how the main character acts and thinks in a digestible manner for a children’s fiction book.

I got approved for an eARC, thank you NetGalley!

I normally love to recommend this kind of book to my students, but I cannot see myself recommending this.

There are some beautiful themes in here, like resilience and friendship, but the path to getting there just...didn't have any plot? I understand the author wanted to get to CXI for chapter numbers, but the chapter cuts felt pointless and distracted from what little plot was in the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rocky Pond Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Alison McGhee’s Weird Sad and Silent is a stunning middle-grade novel that centers on Daisy, a quiet, introspective girl whose journey of self-discovery is both heartwarming and empowering.

The novel beautifully explores themes of friendship, resilience, and the quiet power that can exist within us all. Daisy’s path to recognizing her inner strength is deeply moving, especially as she learns to stand up to bullies and confront the past trauma in her life. McGhee’s writing is poetic yet accessible, weaving emotion and hope into every page.

What sets this book apart is how it reassures readers that even if they feel “weird, sad, or silent,” they still matter—and they have the power to make a difference. Daisy’s growth is a reminder that being different isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength.

The friendships Daisy builds and the moments of triumph she experiences will inspire young readers to believe in themselves. McGhee captures the vulnerability and courage of childhood with such tenderness that adults will likely feel the book’s impact just as much.

Weird Sad and Silent is a must-read for middle-grade audiences. Every ten-year-old deserves to discover their own version of Daisy’s power. The ability to choose kindness is something we all need in our lives.