Westin Hopper's constant case of "Vacation Brain" tends to make his life difficult. Then he finds a magic pouch that produces a "ten-inch high, very live, very angry T. rex." Now Westin has a whole new problem to deal with in Trouble with a Tiny T, a thought-provoking, riotous middle-grade novel.
Last year Westin was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD. He thinks of it as Vacation Brain--it feels as if his brain never does quite what it should. Because of that, he gets in trouble both at home and school. While exploring at his grandparents' house, Westin stumbles upon a magic pouch that brings to life whatever the member of their family holding it is thinking about. When Westin's constantly roving mind accidentally conjures up a tiny T. rex, Westin realizes he will have to learn to control the magic in order to get rid of the dinosaur before it grows and wreaks havoc on the town.
Trouble with a Tiny T by Merriam Sarcia Saunders (My Whirling, Twirling Motor) convincingly presents the world of ADHD from the perspective of a fifth-grade boy. Westin is a gifted young artist but he is racked with insecurity because few people in his life are patient with or understand his symptoms. Saunders deftly demonstrates the impact ADHD can have on a child while never making it an excuse for actual bad behavior or romanticizing the condition. Using magic as a catalyst to explore how mighty Westin truly is, Trouble with a Tiny T promises that everyone has strengths and struggles, and the power within themselves to work through difficulties. --Kyla Paterno, freelance reviewer