Books Like Just Shy of Ordinary
Families who loved Just Shy of Ordinary by A. J. Sass often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Just Shy of Ordinary by A. J. Sass often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book if your child is a meticulous planner who struggles when life deviates from their script, or if they are navigating body-focused repetitive behaviors like hair pulling or skin picking. Shai is a thirteen-year-old nonbinary student who uses research and logic to manage their world. After a period of isolation and financial instability, Shai attempts to 'optimize' their entry into public school, only to find themselves accidentally skipped into the ninth grade. This story provides a compassionate, secular look at anxiety, gender identity, and the courage it takes to exist in a world that cannot be fully researched in advance. Appropriate for ages 9 to 13, it beautifully bridges the gap between middle grade and young adult themes. Parents will appreciate the way it normalizes therapeutic concepts and the reality of living with Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) without making the character feel broken. It is a powerful tool for discussing how to handle 'life's twists and turns' when your internal compass feels a bit shaky.
