If This Were a Story

Written by Beth Turley

A young girl battles bullies and family strife, finding magic in unexpected places.

4.0 Goodreads · 722 ratings

256 pages· 38,114 words· Est. 5.5 hour read· 660L

$16.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Ten-year-old Hannah Geller faces bullies at school and turmoil at home. Struggling with self-doubt and feeling different, she discovers the power of stories and unexpected magic. Can her imagination help her find strength and change her reality? As she leaves heads-up pennies for luck, Hannah learns that resilience might just be her greatest ally. Dive into her journey of growth and hope, where the line between reality and imagination blurs, offering a glimpse of the extraordinary in the everyday.

From the publisher

In the tradition of Crenshaw and The Thing About Jellyfish, ten-year-old Hannah copes with the bullies at school and troubles at home through the power of stories in this sweet and sincere debut. Tenacious. That means strong-willed. My mother calls me that. I wish I felt the same way. If this were a story, I would discover I was a direct descendent of a famous soldier who won countless battles and protected hundreds of people. This resilience running through my veins wouldn’t be damaged by the notes; it would fight off bullies and prevent my parents from yelling at each other. But this is not a story. This is real life. My life as ten-year-old Hannah Geller, who is the only girl in fifth grade to have little red bumps on her face, is unable to let the sad thoughts escape her mind, and leaves heads-up pennies wherever she can to spread good luck. And who also finds magic in the most unlikely of places.

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