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Unstuck
Table of Contents
About The Book
From critically acclaimed author Barbara Dee comes a middle grade novel that’s “this generation’s Dear Mr. Henshaw” (Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor–winning author of Hattie Big Sky) about a girl whose struggles with anxiety and writer’s block set off unexpected twists and turns, both on and off the page.
Lyla is thrilled when her seventh grade English language arts class begins a daily creative writing project. For the past year, she’s been writing a brilliant fantasy novel in her head, and here’s her chance to get it on paper! The plot to Lyla’s novel is super complicated, with battle scenes and witches and a mysterious one-toed-beast, but at its core, it’s about an overlooked girl who has to rescue her beautiful, highly accomplished older sister.
But writing a fantasy novel turns out to be harder than simply imagining one, and pretty soon Lyla finds herself stuck, experiencing a panic she realizes is writer’s block. Part of the problem is that she’s trying to impress certain people—like Rania, her best friend who’s pulling away, and Ms. Bowman, the coolest teacher at school. Plus, there’s the pressure of meeting the deadline for the town writing contest. A few years ago, Lyla’s superstar teen sister Dahlia came in second, and this time, Lyla is determined to win first prize.
Finally, Lyla confides about her writing problems to Dahlia, who is dealing with her own academic stress as she applies to college. That’s when she learns Dahlia’s secret, which is causing a very different type of writer’s block. Can Lyla rescue a surprisingly vulnerable big sister, both on the page and in real life?
Excerpt
THE BLANK PAGE
Okay, here we go.
What I’ve been waiting for, the chance to share my story. Not just the random bits I’ve been writing in my head, or scribbling on notepads, but the whole thing, from the absolute beginning.
I mean, I guess from the absolute beginning.
Because… what exactly is the absolute beginning? The day Aster is born? Or runs away from home? Or first spies the one-toed Beast that’s tracking her every move? But so much happens before all that, and it’s stuff I should probably explain in the first chapter. Seriously, if you don’t know about the Defectors, or Oleander the Witch, or how Aster’s big sister is basically kidnapped, nothing in the plot will make any sense.
And this story gets incredibly complicated, although in a good way. Really, there’s so much action, it could be a whole series! I wonder if Ms. Bowman would let me keep writing. I bet she would, once she sees how much there is to tell, because she’s the kind of teacher who lets you actually create. Unlike Mr. Delgado last year, who made us write five-paragraph essays on topics like Why Kids Need Limits on Screen Time. I mean literally—five paragraphs, not four or six. Once I actually wrote seven paragraphs and he made me smoosh them together so that I had exactly five. It’s amazing I survived sixth grade without my brain leaking out my ears.
And now Ms. Bowman is smiling in my direction. Making eye contact and nodding like, Go ahead, Lyla. Why don’t you start writing?
I smile back at her like, No problem! Here I go! Writing my story!
Seriously, Ms. Bowman is the coolest teacher in the entire school, even if she thought my sister, Dahlia, was a genius. But I don’t hold it against her, because teachers always think Dahlia is a genius. It’s what my parents think too. And of course Dahlia agrees with all of them.
Anyway.
I click the top of my favorite gel pen: blue ink, extra-fine tip, not too clunky in my hand. When Ms. Bowman told us about daily writing, some kids said they could write only on their laptops. Ms. Bowman said she’d like us to begin our stories in spiral notebooks, although later on we can switch to tablets or computers, if we want. But I don’t think I will, at least not until I have a first draft. I like to feel a pen in my hand, and see my handwriting on the paper. It just seems, I don’t know, more personal somehow.
And the thought that soon, in maybe just a few weeks, this empty notebook will be completely filled—every page, every line—makes me feel like dancing. Of course I stay in my seat, but it’s hard to stop smiling. Not that you need to suffer to write a story! I mean, that’s such a cliché, right? Why can’t writing just make you happy?
In front of me, Stella Ramirez is using a pencil, and so is Noah Hennessey on my right. Stella’s pencil is one of those fancy mechanical ones, but Noah’s is a nub, barely big enough to grip. I watch them both hunch over their desks, doing two different kinds of hunching. Stella sits like she’s taking a test, and doesn’t want anyone copying her answers. Noah is hunched like he’s already given up, even though we’re just getting started.
Poor Noah—he looks so miserable. In math class he knows all the answers, so I bet he likes numbers better than words. I’m the total opposite: if I could do nothing all day long except reading and writing, I’d be the happiest human on the planet!
CHAPTER ONE
This story will have lots of chapters, so they’ll definitely need numbers. I wonder how many there’ll be by the last page of this notebook, because it’s going to be extremely long. Way longer than five paragraphs—so DO NOT READ THIS, Mr. Delgado! Nothing to see here, hahaha!
Although later on I might give the chapters titles instead of numbers. Possibly. I haven’t decided—but that’s okay, because there’s plenty of time to think about things like that. We’re going to be working on this writing project for the next few weeks, Ms. Bowman says. Every day, for at least a few minutes! Woohoo!
Seriously, Ms. Bowman is like the Best Teacher Ever. I can barely wait to see her reaction when she reads this! When I’m ready to show it to her, I mean.
Oh no. Wait, stop!
Why is my hand all blue?
Is that ink?
Oh crap, my pen is leaking!
Gross! Just as I was getting started!
I’d better go wash up in the bathroom.
Even if the period is basically over now, and I won’t have time to do any writing.
Reading Group Guide
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Unstuck
By Barbara Dee
About the Book
Lyla is thrilled when her seventh-grade English language arts class begins a daily creative writing project. For the past year, she’s been writing a brilliant fantasy novel in her head, and here’s her chance to get it on paper! But writing a fantasy novel turns out to be harder than simply imagining one, and pretty soon Lyla finds herself stuck, experiencing a panic she realizes is writer’s block. Part of the problem is that she’s trying to impress certain people—like Rania, her best friend who’s pulling away, and Ms. Bowman, the coolest teacher at school. Plus, there’s the pressure of meeting the deadline for the town writing contest. A few years ago, Lyla’s superstar teen sister, Dahlia, came in second, and this time Lyla is determined to win first prize.
Discussion Questions
1. When you first saw this book, before you started reading it, what did you think it would be about based on the title? The main character, Lyla, is suffering from writer’s block. What had you heard about writer’s block before reading Unstuck? Have you experienced it?
2. In what other ways does Lyla feel stuck during the novel? Which other characters in the book are stuck about something? What are some things that you or your friends might feel stuck or blocked about?
3. Discuss in groups or pairs how this book might have been different if Lyla had not been able to make progress on writing her story. What are some other themes in the book? How do they connect with the main theme of being stuck?
4. In the first chapter, readers learn that Lyla is very excited to be doing a creative writing project instead of the essay writing she’s done previously. How do you feel about creative writing? Lyla doesn’t appreciate the cliché that says “you need to suffer to write a story” and wonders, “Why can’t writing just make you happy?” (p. 3) What kind of story would make you happiest to write? Do you also love to read stories in that genre?
5. Readers learn that Noah knows all the answers in math class, so he probably “likes numbers better than words.” (p. 4) Can you be both a words person and a numbers person? Which type of person are you? Explain why you prefer one over the other.
6. Lyla’s teacher Ms. Bowman, a songwriter, gives Lyla lots of tips about ways to overcome writer’s block, like taking breaks and having a cookie. What are some of her other suggestions? Which suggestion would you try first?
7. According to Ms. Bowman, “Reading can help give you ideas.” (p. 23) And Lyla realizes, “Reading is kind of disappearing. Writing is . . . the opposite. A kind of appearing.” (p. 111) How do you feel about Ms. Bowman’s and Lyla’s observations? How does Lyla’s voracious reading help her as a writer? How does it interfere?
8. Ms. Bowman says to the class: “‘My goal is really just that folks enjoy the writing process, with no rules or expectations.’” (p. 94) Is that something you’ve learned from your English teachers? How do you feel about what Ms. Bowman says: “‘Ideas come as you’re working. You really don’t have to have it all figured out before you begin’”? (p. 46) Is that how it works for you when you’re writing something? Or would you rather have a completed outline or story structure before you begin writing?
9. According to Lyla, opening sentences are important. What do you think is important to have in a first sentence? What does Lyla feel needs to be in a first sentence, or an opening sequence? Look back through some of your favorite books and write out the first lines in each one. What is most important about these sentences? How are they different, and what do they all have in common?
10. Because her sister Dahlia previously won a prize in the town writing contest, Lyla is determined to enter and win, too. How does this desire interfere with Lyla’s writing? What other problems does it cause? What are some of the negatives about comparing yourself to others? What are some of the ways that readers discover that Dahlia is not perfect? Why does she say to Lyla, “‘You’re so lucky you’re just in seventh grade’”? (p. 14) Compare Lyla and Dahlia in regard to feeling pressure and suffering writer’s block. Do you identify with one or the other of the sisters? Why does someone else’s situation always seem preferable to your own?
11. How does Lyla feel when she discovers that Dahlia is not doing well in school and is keeping secrets from their parents? She promises she will keep Dahlia’s secrets. Do you think that’s a good way to support a sibling, by keeping their secrets? How could that backfire on someone? Why is Lyla conflicted about telling on Dahlia when she disappears?
12. Since Lyla’s best friend, Rania, changed schools, she doesn’t have any friends—but she does sit with Journey at lunch. Lyla says Journey is “a nice person, but a little . . . weird.” (p. 7) Why does Lyla describe Journey this way? One of Journey’s hobbies “is reading random stuff online and then telling you about it.” (p. 9) Identify some other ways that Lyla and her peers consider Journey to be weird. How do you feel about Lyla’s observation that “once people expect you to be weird, nothing you do or say will change their minds”? (p. 197) How and why does Lyla’s opinion of Journey change throughout the book?
13. When Lyla goes to Rania’s house and meets her new friends, it doesn’t go well. Rania accuses her of bragging about her writing and the contest. In what ways might it be hard to meet an old friend’s new friends? Should a person have more than one friend or groups of friends? Why do you feel that way?
14. Lyla asks Journey to give her some feedback on her story. How can receiving feedback on something you’ve created, even from a friend, be scary or nerve-racking? Do people place too much value on what others think of them? How is Journey’s feedback helpful? What sort of feedback helps you?
15. Lyla says she has “too many people in her head.” (p. 134) How do all their “opinions and feedback and criticism” interfere with her creativity? How do you listen to helpful opinions about your work and shut out the unhelpful ones?
16. When Lyla is fretting about meeting the deadline for the writing contest and tells Journey and Noah why she wants to win, Journey says to her: “‘Lyla, you’re a writer . . . you don’t need to prove it to your sister. Or some contest judge. Or anyone else!’” (p. 249) Why is this important for Lyla to hear? Why does Lyla want this outside validation of her identity as a writer? Can you understand her reasoning?
Extension Activities
Creative Writing
Use the first sentence of Lyla’s story to write an original short story: “Aster was sloshing through the Quagmire when all of a sudden she heard the shriek.”
Journey asks Lyla: “‘If you could have any superpower in the world, which would you choose?’” (p. 25) Give yourself a superpower and write a short story with your super-self as the main character.
Essay Writing
Pretend it’s time to write your college essay! Your topic, like Dahlia’s, is “A Meaningful Experience.”
Lyla asks Dahlia, “‘If you could do anything in the world, anything you wanted for the next year, what would it be?’” (p. 213) Write an essay answering this question for yourself.
Free Writing
Choose any character from the book and write about them for ten minutes without stopping. Make sure to follow Ms. Bowman’s freewriting rules: keep your pen or pencil moving, no pauses, no rereading, and no worries about handwriting, spelling, or grammar. Just keep the words flowing!
Lyla can’t think of anything but clichés when she tries to express that “she needed to run really fast.” Set your timer and freewrite for ten minutes about that: suggest some other ways Lyla could phrase this or write about other clichés you’ve heard.
Guide written by Bobbie Combs, a consultant at We Love Children's Books.
This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes. For more Simon & Schuster guides and classroom materials, please visit simonandschuster.net or thebookpantry.net.
Product Details
- Publisher: Aladdin (February 27, 2024)
- Length: 288 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534489868
- Grades: 4 - 8
- Ages: 9 - 13
- Fountas & Pinnell™ W These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System
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Raves and Reviews
“Short dynamic chapters and Lyla’s distinctive and energetic voice will keep readers flipping the pages. Just as she has in My Life in the Fish Tank and other titles, Dee showcases the power of compassion and understanding during the crucial middle school years of growth and change.”
– School Library Journal (Starred Review)
“Dee deftly depicts the complex and sometimes turbulent writing process, and the self-doubt that can come with it."
– Publishers Weekly
“With well-established insight into the interior lives of middle schoolers, Dee nails some of the tiny, painful intricacies of hesitant new friendship and feeling boxed in by other people’s expectations. Lyla’s passion and frustrations will be relatable to any aspiring young writer.”
– Booklist
"With wonderfully rich characterization and impeccable pacing, the author interweaves middle school friend and family dramas with struggles familiar to any writer. A heartfelt exploration of a young writer’s struggles and successes, with practical advice included."
– Kirkus Reviews
“Lyla is a character to root for! Her battle with writer’s block and her journey to overcome it are both relatable and inspiring. With family and friendship relationships weaved in, Unstuck is an entertaining and heartfelt read.”
– Janae Marks, New York Times bestselling author of On Air With Zoe Washington
“For years now, Barbara Dee has written one exceptional novel after another. UNSTUCK may be her best yet. Lyla’s story is at once unique and universal, and readers will finish the book feeling inspired and empowered to take control of, and share, their stories.”
– Jarrett Lerner, author of A Work in Progress
"A wonderful, heartfelt and honest story about trying to write a novel and survive middle school, Unstuck is this generation's Dear Mr. Henshaw."
– Kirby Larson, author of Newbery Honor Book Hattie Big Sky
"Unstuck joyfully celebrates the complex writing process and empowers young readers with the knowledge that creativity is a personal journey and sometimes strength is found in unexpected places.”
– Veera Hiranandani, author of How to Find What You're Not Looking For and The Night Diary, a Newbery Honor Book
"A portrait of a writer as a seventh grader! Humorous, heart-warming, and oh-so-real, Unstuck shows us how surviving middle school is a lot like the craft of writing. We must accept that it isn't easy, it helps to have friends, and, above all, we have to stay true to ourselves. Word lovers and budding novelists will love this book -- but so will anyone who is, will soon be, or once was an adolescent."
– Jennifer Ziegler, author of Worser
"With her trademark humor and warmth, Barbara Dee has crafted an empowering story about creativity, self-esteem, and the pressures that come along with pursuing a passion. Dee incorporates writing strategies that will inspire budding authors and delight English teachers, and Lyla's deeply relatable journey will resonate with anyone who's ever felt stuck–whether they're battling writer's block, navigating changing friendships, or yearning to emerge from a sibling's shadow."
– Laurie Morrison, author of Up for Air and Coming Up Short
Resources and Downloads
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- Book Cover Image (jpg): Unstuck Hardcover 9781534489868
- Author Photo (jpg): Barbara Dee Carolyn Simpson(0.1 MB)
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