THE YEAR OF THE BUTTERED CAT (Penelope Editions)

This middle grade novel, based heavily on fact, is about a girl with severe cerebral palsy. Written by Susan in her daughter Lexi’s voice, chapters alternate between Lexi as a six-year old with dawning awareness of her disability and how others see her, and Lexi at thirteen, on the eve of a brain surgery that may give her the ability to speak – or may take away her sense of self. A separate section describes the process, including how Lexi communicated general concepts and wishes to build the story.

(Co-agent: Mary Cummings)