About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels misunderstood by the world or struggles with a brain that works a bit differently than their peers. King of the Sticks is a powerful historical adventure that validates the internal life of a neurodivergent child in a harsh environment. It explores how vulnerability can be a strange kind of strength when life becomes unpredictable. Set in the 19th-century Australian frontier, the story follows Custard, a boy whose family and community view him as slow or strange. When he is suddenly kidnapped from his isolated farm, he is forced into a high-stakes survival situation. This book is ideal for middle schoolers who are beginning to grapple with their own identity and the realization that the world is not always fair, but that their unique perspective is a tool for resilience.
