Tornado Brain

Cat Patrick and her family live near Seattle but spend as much time as possible setting marshmallows on fire and tangling kites in Long Beach, Washington. There, Tornado Brain was born.

Cat is the author of several critically acclaimed books for young readers including Paper Heart, Forgotten, Revived, and The Originals.

You can find her online at catpatrick.com.

In this heartfelt and powerfully affecting coming of age story, a neurodivergent 7th grader is determined to find her missing best friend before it's too late. Now in paperback.

Things never seem to go as easily for thirteen-year-old Frankie as they do for her sister, Tess. Unlike Tess, Frankie is neurodivergent. In her case, that means she can't stand to be touched, loud noises bother her, she's easily distracted, she hates changes in her routine, and she has to go see a therapist while other kids get to hang out at the beach. It also means Frankie has trouble making friends. She did have one--Colette--but they're not friends anymore. It's complicated.

Then, just weeks before the end of seventh grade, Colette unexpectedly shows up at Frankie's door. The next morning, Colette vanishes. Now, after losing Colette yet again, Frankie's convinced that her former best friend left clues behind that only she can decipher, so she persuades her reluctant sister to help her unravel the mystery of Colette's disappearance before it's too late.

A powerful story of friendship, sisters, and forgiveness, Tornado Brain is an achingly honest portrait of a young girl trying to find space to be herself. Inspired by her own neurodiverse child, Cat Patrick writes with authenticity and sincerity in her depiction of Frankie in what is ultimately a love letter to neurodiverse children everywhere.

STELLER RECEPTION AND PRAISE: Cat's middle grade debut has received two starred reviews and incredible praise and support from the school and library community.MOVING TALE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP: This exploration of friendship and what family really means is fresh, authentic, and powerfully affecting.REAL LIFE INSPIRIRATION: This novel is inspired by those the author knows and loves with similar diagnoses to Frankie's.ENDEARING MAIN CHARACTER: Frankie knows she isn't perfect (and she knows others aren't either) but that doesn't stop her from trying to be her best self no matter how hard it may be. Readers will fall for her unabashedly unique and compelling voice.ENCHANTING SEASIDE SETTING: Readers will be drawn to the beautiful seaside setting of Long Beach Washington. It is also a place that Cat and her family have spent much time, lending additional resonance to the story.MORE TO COME: The companion novel to Tornado Brain, Haunted Heart, will be coming out one month after this paperback. We will include a teaser for it in this paperback. While Tornado Brain dealt with neurodivergence and is from Frankie's perspective, Haunted Heart deals with anxiety disorder and is from Tess's perspective.