KCU Pitchfest Showcase 2023 (Top 50)
So Much Potential
School has never been easy for 11-year-old budding artist Daisy, who is adjusting to her mom’s recent marriage and new baby brother. With all the extra homework in 6th grade, she can’t keep up! Or maybe she would just rather retreat into her fantasy world or draw pictures. Nearing the end of the year, her teacher, parents, and even her friends are frustrated with Daisy - and she won’t pass her English class until she turns in her illustrated short story project.
"So Much Potential" is about Daisy’s struggles with undiagnosed ADHD and how it affects her schoolwork and relationships. It is about overcoming obstacles, learning to empathize with others, and self-actualization.
Age Range:
Middle GradeGenre:
Fiction, Neurodiversity Content, Own Voices, Realistic Fiction/Slice of Life, Social-EmotionalPage Count Estimate:
250
My Why:
As a child, I struggled with all the same things that Daisy does. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, girls were not often diagnosed with ADHD or autism. It wasn’t until my oldest son was diagnosed with both many years later that my own childhood struggles began to make sense to me. "So Much Potential" is inspired by my experiences in 6th grade as a misunderstood daydreamer. I hope this story speaks to kids who struggle to initiate and complete tasks and makes them feel empowered to advocate for themselves.
Deborah Tyson
Deborah Tyson lives in SE Pennsylvania with her husband, three school-aged sons, and her dog. She has illustrated for six children’s books for self-published authors before beginning to write and illustrate kids comics. When she is not writing or drawing, she likes to try out new international recipes and read memoirs. She loves learning about different cultures and anything related to sociology. She especially loves making her kids laugh, though it’s getting harder with the teenagers.
So Much Potential
School has never been easy for 11-year-old budding artist Daisy, who is adjusting to her mom’s recent marriage and new baby brother. With all the extra homework in 6th grade, she can’t keep up! Or maybe she would just rather retreat into her fantasy world or draw pictures. Nearing the end of the year, her teacher, parents, and even her friends are frustrated with Daisy - and she won’t pass her English class until she turns in her illustrated short story project.
"So Much Potential" is about Daisy’s struggles with undiagnosed ADHD and how it affects her schoolwork and relationships. It is about overcoming obstacles, learning to empathize with others, and self-actualization.
Age Range:
Middle GradeGenre:
Fiction, Neurodiversity Content, Own Voices, Realistic Fiction/Slice of Life, Social-EmotionalPage Count Estimate:
250
My Why:
As a child, I struggled with all the same things that Daisy does. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, girls were not often diagnosed with ADHD or autism. It wasn’t until my oldest son was diagnosed with both many years later that my own childhood struggles began to make sense to me. "So Much Potential" is inspired by my experiences in 6th grade as a misunderstood daydreamer. I hope this story speaks to kids who struggle to initiate and complete tasks and makes them feel empowered to advocate for themselves.
Deborah Tyson
Deborah Tyson lives in SE Pennsylvania with her husband, three school-aged sons, and her dog. She has illustrated for six children’s books for self-published authors before beginning to write and illustrate kids comics. When she is not writing or drawing, she likes to try out new international recipes and read memoirs. She loves learning about different cultures and anything related to sociology. She especially loves making her kids laugh, though it’s getting harder with the teenagers.