--- url: 'https://www.yayomg.com/beyond-the-pages/giveaways/focused-fun-facts/' title: '10 Fun Facts About Focused + GIVEAWAY!' author: name: Kelly url: 'https://www.yayomg.com/author/khofmann/' date: '2019-03-26T12:20:00-04:00' modified: '2019-03-26T12:20:00-04:00' type: post categories: - Fun Facts - Giveaways tags: - adhd - alyson gerber - focused - fun facts - giveaway - scholastic image: 'https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/yayomg-focused-fun-facts.jpg' published: true --- # 10 Fun Facts About Focused + GIVEAWAY! Have you ever had a day where you’ve felt completely unfocused, overwhelmed, and despite your best efforts, you can’t seem to get it right? This is how it can feel every day for someone with **ADHD**, including **Clea** from **Alyson Gerber’s** brand new novel, ***Focused.*** ***Focused*** is about a smart, chess-loving girl named **Clea.** When **Clea** plays chess, everything is clear and nothing else matters. She can see multiple moves ahead and is on her way to competing in a big tournament. Lately, everything else isn’t so easy for **Clea.** She goes into each day with a level head and good intentions, but despite her best efforts, she finds herself too distracted to complete her homework, doing assignments wrong, and getting in trouble with her teachers. That’s when **Clea’s** parents finally take her to a psychiatrist, where she receives an **ADHD** diagnosis. You’ll have to read ***Focused ***to find out what happens next, but we can assure you that you’re going to love this vibrant, funny, and incredibly relatable story about middle school, first crushes, and friendship. ![10 Fun Facts About Focused + GIVEAWAY](https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/yayomg-focused-fun-facts-cover.jpg) ![](https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/graystars2.png) ***Following Braced, which had three starred reviews, comes a story of a girl caught between her love of chess and her ADHD.*** *Clea can’t control her thoughts. She knows she has to do her homework . . . but she gets distracted. She knows she can’t just say whatever thought comes into her head . . . but sometimes she can’t help herself. She knows she needs to focus . . . but how can she do that when the people around her are always chewing gum loudly or making other annoying noises?* *It’s starting to be a problem—not just in school, but when Clea’s playing chess or just hanging out with her best friend. Other kids are starting to notice. When Clea fails one too many tests, her parents take her to be tested, and she finds out that she has ADHD, which means her attention is all over the place instead of where it needs to be.* *Clea knows life can’t continue the way it’s been going. She’s just not sure how you can fix a problem that’s all in your head. But that’s what she’s going to have to do, to find a way to focus.* In a starred review, Booklist called Alyson Gerber’s first novel, Braced, “a masterfully constructed and highly empathetic debut about a different kind of acceptance.” With Focused, she explores even further how, when life gives you a challenge, the best way to face it is with an open mind, an open heart, and the open support of the people around you. ***Focused*** **AUTHOR:** Alyson Gerber **PUBLISHER:** [Scholastic](https://www.yayomg.com/tag/scholastic/) **DATE:** March 26, 2019 **ADHD** can be a struggle for anyone, but we loved how the author shines a light on a middle school girl in particular. Symptoms tend to show up differently in girls, making it harder to diagnose. Author **Alyson Gerber** has **ADHD** herself, which is why writing this book was so important to her. Get to know more about **Clea’s** story and the author’s journey with **ADHD** by checking out these **10 Fun Facts** about the book. PLUS – we’ve also teamed up with her for a ***Focused* Giveaway!** Enter below! ## Author Alyson Gerber Shares 10 Fun Facts About *Focused*: ![10 Fun Facts About Focused + GIVEAWAY](https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/yayomg-focused-fun-facts-6.jpg) **FACT #1:** **Clea Adams** is a gutsy twelve-year-old, who loves chess and is determined to get a top spot on the seventh-grade team. Only the year just started and she’s already messing up in school, in chess, and with her best friend, **Red.** **FACT #2:** **Clea** loves chess, and I wanted that passion to be central to her character, but I also wanted readers who didn’t know anything about chess to be able to follow along and be part of the action. ![10 Fun Facts About Focused + GIVEAWAY](https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/yayomg-focused-fun-facts-2.jpg)**(Alyson and Henley, Image Courtesy of Alyson Gerber)** **FACT #3:** ***Focused*** started as a few scenes about sisters, after my younger sister **Caroline** asked me to write her into a book. These scenes developed into one of my favorite parts of the story. **Clea** and **Henley** are both facing different challenges. **Clea** has a hard time controlling her emotions, attention, and words, because of her **ADHD**, while **Henley** struggles to enunciate words and speak up for herself. **FACT #4:** Like **Clea**, I have **ADHD.** I was diagnosed at 21, and since then, I have been in therapy and on medication to help manage my symptoms. However, while I was pregnant with my daughter, **Juliette**, I didn’t take medicine. During that time, I rewrote the first chapter of ***Focused.*** I wanted readers to jump right into **Clea’s** mind and have the opportunity to live with **ADHD.** ![](https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/yayomg-focused-fun-facts-3-1.jpg)**(Image via [@alysongerber](https://www.instagram.com/alysongerber/))** **FACT #5:** I’m very proud of who I am, **ADHD** and all. There are a lot of challenges that come along with having **ADHD**, but there are also strengths to having a brain that processes information differently. I’ve been able to take advantage of hyper-focus and write books that I’m excited to share. **FACT #6:** When I was in middle school, I didn’t know I wanted to be an author. My dream was to move to **New York City** and become an actress! **FACT #7:** Everyone wants to know if **Red** is a real person. The short answer: he is. And he isn’t. ![](https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/yayomg-focused-fun-facts-4.jpg)**(Image via [@alysongerber](https://www.instagram.com/alysongerber/))** **FACT #8:** There is a romance in this book! I don’t want to give too much away, so I won’t get into details, but this is one arc that took me by surprise, and I really love how it turned out. **FACT #9:** **Clea** loves ***Harry Potter.*** And so do I! **FACT #10:** When I’m not writing and reading, I spend a lot of time watch mysteries, eating pizza, traveling to new places, and exploring **NYC** with my family! ### FOCUSED PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY: ![10 Fun Facts About Focused + GIVEAWAY](https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/yayomg-focused-fun-facts-7.jpg) ### WHAT DO I WIN?: ONE lucky winner will receive a ***Focused* Prize Pack! **The prize pack includes: – ONE (1) **SIGNED** copy of ***Focused*** by **Alyson Gerber** – ONE (1) **Erin CondrenAcademic Planner, **to help keep you focused. – ONE (1) **Magnetic Travel Chess Set, **so you can become a chess master like **Clea.** **Book generously provided by Alyson Gerber* ### HOW DO I ENTER?: Grab a parent or guardian and have them fill out the form below by **April 9**,** 2019** at **11:59pm ET.** Giveaway runs from **3/26/19** at **01:00 pm ET** through **4/09/19** at **11:59 pm.** Open to US residents ONLY. Be sure to read the fully detailed rules [HERE](https://www.yayomg.com/focused-prize-pack-giveaway-rules/) before entering. THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. **You must be 18 or older to enter. Please, only ONE entry per person. If selected as a winner, we will provide your parent/guardian with an affidavit to confirm that you are a valid winner who has permission to win. They will be REQUIRED to sign and return the affidavit to YAYOMG! to claim your prize. Prizes will not be mailed out without signed parental consent.* ![10 Fun Facts About Focused + GIVEAWAY](https://www.yayomg.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/yayomg-focused-fun-facts-3.jpg)**(Image Courtesy of Alyson Gerber)** We’re also excited to share that author **Alyson Gerber** is taking over our **[Instagram Story](https://www.instagram.com/yayomgofficial/)** today to give you an inside look at the day in the life of an author on book launch day! You’ll get to take a tour of **NYC’s** best bookstores, find out her favorite middle grade reads, and take a peek into her ***Focused*** launch party! Missed the story while it was live? You can find it saved in our **Story Highlights **[here.](https://www.instagram.com/yayomgofficial/) If you love ***Focused***, be sure to check out **Alyson Gerber’s** other novel, ***Braced!*** Need even more book recommendations? Here are [25 brand new reads](https://www.yayomg.com/yaybooks-march-2019-roundup/) that released this month!