Astor Branch

Drawings From The Duck Pond Astor Branch

Different means outcast-or so he thought. Kids at school call him stupid, but Zach Bainheart notices everything-colors, scents, loose threads, and whispers. Some might call it a superpower, but Zach hates everything that comes with it. Never mind that he remembers the tiniest details. The duck pond is the only place Zach feels normal. There, he can forget he's failing his freshman year. There, life makes sense. But when Zach's last attempt to fit in ends in humiliation, even the pond can't hide the harsh reality he faces: He's too weird to be accepted by anyone-including himself. Enter Dr. Jessican Bond, Zach's quirky new counselor who won't let him give up. With the help of Dr. Bond and a few new friends (and enemies), Zach begins to uncover secrets about himself and his family that suggest different is worth fighting for. But even if it is, Zach wonders whether a better life is possible for a kid like him. It just might take a hundred sketches from the duck pond to find out.