Gifted or Cursed

What happens when brilliance becomes a burden?

Zoe started reading chapter books at age five. By ten, she tested above the high school level. Everyone called her "gifted." But when she's pulled ahead into an older grade, the label doesn't feel like a gift-it feels like a curse.

Suddenly, Zoe's the baby in class. Too smart for her age, too young to fit in, and too overwhelmed to explain what she needs. The things that once made her special now make her a target.

In a world where students with learning challenges get support-but gifted kids are left to figure it out alone-Zoe begins to question everything. Is being smart supposed to feel this lonely?

Told with raw honesty and emotional depth, Gifted or Cursed explores identity, belonging, and the silent struggles of students who fall outside the system. Perfect for fans of Wonder and Fish in a Tree, this powerful coming-of-age story is for every kid who ever felt like they didn't quite fit the mold.