Dear Isaac Newton, You're Ruining My Life

As if seventh grade isn't hard enough, Truth Trendon learns she has to wear a back brace to help her worsening scoliosis. She decides gravity is to blame for curving her spine and ruining her life. Thanks for nothing, Isaac Newton!

Truth's brace is hard plastic, tight, and uncomfortable. She has to wear a t-shirt under it and bulky clothes over it, making her feel both sweaty and unfashionable. She's terrified that her classmates are going to find out about it.

But it's hard keeping it a secret (especially when gym class is involved), and secrets quickly turn into lies. When Truth's crush entrusts her with a big secret of his own, it leads to even more lying. Add to that a fight with her best friend, a looming school-wide presentation, and mean rumors, and it's a recipe for disaster.

As Truth navigates the ups and downs of middle school, can she learn to accept her true self, curvy spine and all?

Rachel Hruza has always loved everything related to books. She received an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and her short stories have been published in Scintilla, Crossed Out Magazine, and ScissorTale Review. Dear Isaac Newton, You’re Ruining My Life is her first novel, and was inspired by her own experience: Rachel was diagnosed with scoliosis at age eleven, she and her twin sister wore back braces through all of junior high, and Rachel had corrective surgery while in college. Rachel hails from the middle of the United States, where she teaches English at the local college, plays piano and guitar, and spends much of her spare time with her husband and their snaggle-toothed peekapoo.

"I cannot tell a lie: I loved Truth Trendon! She’s a smart, funny heroine who readers will connect with and root for. Dear Isaac Newton, You’re Ruining Me Life made me laugh and gave me all the feels." —Erin Dionne, author of The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet

"You're gonna laugh, you're gonna think, you're gonna root for Truth Trendon every step of the way—through sand, through tuna fish, and through each hilariously awkward middle-school moment in this fun and heartfelt debut!" —Brooks Benjamin, author of My Seventh-Grade Life in Tights

"A compelling middle-school tale that captures the realities of living with scoliosis while maintaining the realistic drama of everyday life."—Girls' Life

"Fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder may enjoy this."—Kirkus Reviews

"Truth Trendon, age 12, starts to wear a back brace to keep her scoliosis at bay, right before junior high starts. She blames Isaac Newton and gravity for her predicament, and she decides to try to keep the brace a secret, known only to her family; her best friend, Megan; and the necessary adults at school. It’s difficult, but she manages it and even catches the eye of her crush, Brendan Matthews. Brendan seems happy to give Truth his full attention, even when he discovers her secret by accident. Secrets, however, lead to lies, and Truth needs to find her way out of the tangle she has snarled herself in, even if it means revealing her secret to everyone. Hruza has a funny and bright character in Truth, and the supporting characters are well rounded. Though the characters come off as older than seventh-graders, and the pace drags in places, plenty of readers will identify with Truth and her relatable dilemma." —Booklist