Derby and the Dandelions
Synopsis
Seventeen-year-old Derby has spent the last three years at the Academy, a progressive group home for unadopted orphans. With her found family—Icicle, Carter, and Blaze—she’s learned how to survive, one day at a time.
When a wealthy family unexpectedly wants to adopt her, Derby is forced to question everything she believes about family, safety and belonging. Drawn into the shimmering world of the mother, a charismatic influencer, Derby begins to change herself to fit in, even as she wonders who she’s becoming.
But with only ninety days until a court hearing decides her future, Derby must find the courage to choose: chase the fantasy of a forever family, or risk building a life that genuinely fits her.
At its heart, Derby & The Dandelions is a coming-of-age story about embracing your sensitivity, claiming your voice, and discovering where you truly belong.
Praise
One review reader fell in love with Derby, saying: “My heart breaks for her because I see so much of her in myself… I want to cry for her and hug her, I want to shake her, I want to watch her learn and grow.”
Another reader writes: “I strongly relate to Derby - I resonate with her strong emotions. I’m definitely an orchid and I relate to her frustrations, especially compared to the dandelions of the world.”
After reading this, one reader wrote, “Wow, this was so vivid. Now I understand my orchid friends so much better.”
Book Inspiration
I believe in the power of stories to both entertain and educate. Science can help us learn, but stories help us empathize.
Therefore, I wrote a contemporary story about an orphan who struggles with high sensitivity and who desperately wishes to be different than she is. Because she’s forced to choose between her found family and an adoptive family, she must determine which environment is best for her mental health.
I’ve never read a fictional story about a highly sensitive person, so I decided to write one.