D Is For Defective

"Twisted letters, tangled hearts."
"When fitting in feels impossible, friendship can save you."

Gracie Baxter is defective... at least that is how she sees herself.
Since childhood, Gracie has battled dyslexia, watching helplessly as words and letters twist and tumble in her mind. Isolated and misunderstood, she secretly pinches her skin to cope with rising anxiety. Her world becomes even more daunting when, at the start of junior year, she's mainstreamed into general education classes—no longer able to shelter in the comfort of special education. Now, Gracie must find a way to fit in, all while hiding both her dyslexia and her struggle with self-harm.
Everything shifts when Landon Cater—a ghost from Gracie's past—reappears at school after a mysterious two-year absence. Their once-close friendship ended abruptly when Landon vanished. But Landon carries secrets of his own: his father's recent release from prison has turned his world upside down, leaving him with far more to worry about than just playing quarterback or trying to win Gracie's heart.
As Gracie and Landon tentatively rebuild their bond, buried truths begin to surface. Can they confront their painful pasts together, or will old secrets drive them apart for good?