Shapeshifter's Guide to Gym Class

For fans of Judy Blume and Lee Knox Ostertag, a heartfelt and hilarious middle grade debut from Kai Cheng Thom about learning to listen to that quiet, bold voice in your heart.In every generation, a special few of Nor Numinem are born shapeshifters. Unfortunately, being one of the special few does not get you out of gym class. Nor Numinem. A town of hope and beauty. A place where freedom for all blooms as abundantly as the flowering vines that cover the buildings on every street. Yet even in this beautiful town, a kid like Maias got problems. Maia is a shapeshifter. And worse, shes starting middle school. In every generation, a special few of Nor Numinem are born shapeshifters: children who develop the mysterious ability to transform into a part-animal shape. Unfortunately for Maia, her ability is merely this: to grow giant moth wings that grow uncontrollably out of her back whenever shes excited, or upset, or for some reason, whenever her new classmate Luke looks at her in a particular way. Worse than worse? Maias wings are useless. Weak and fragile--unlike her talented friends. But Maias problems are about get much harder than even she knows. A strange illness is spreading through the gardens of Nor Numinem. The very gardens that feed and sustain this once-perfect town. Worse still, some of the adults think the shapeshifter children are to blame. As rumors turn into hate, life gets tougher for those who aren't seen as "e;normal"e;. Maia and her friends will soon discover that there is a dark rift in Nor Numinem, one that will take all their talents, known and unknown, to heal.