Stuff I Can't Say Out Loud

Stuff I Can’t Say Out Loud
A story of ADHD, friendship, and finding your place

Ten-year-old Summer Matthews is starting over — again. After things fell apart at her old school, she’s landed at Riverstone Primary, clutching a new bag and a stomach full of dread. Summer isn’t diagnosed with anything, but she knows she feels too much, misses social cues, and gets overwhelmed by sounds and smells that no one else seems to notice.

Her new teacher, Mrs Lovell, gently suggests she try keeping a journal — a space for the things she can’t always say out loud. Through scribbles, doodles, pie charts of feelings, and funny, sharp observations, Summer begins to track her days at school. Slowly, she realises that starting over doesn’t have to mean disappearing.

At first, things feel just as confusing. But small moments — a quiet friend, a frog pencil, a teacher who sees without fuss — start to feel like safety. When a meltdown comes, it isn’t the end. It’s the turning point. From there, Summer begins to believe she can belong.

Stuff I Can’t Say Out Loud is a heartfelt, funny, and emotionally honest look at life through the eyes of a neurodivergent child. It’s for every reader who has ever felt unseen — and for the grown-ups learning how to listen.