"Magazine spreads and Hollywood hits showcase stars with perfect skin, perfect faces, perfect hair, perfect lives, perfect... everything. But what if the absence of scars is really a lie? And what if, underneath all that perfection, something far more powerful and authentic is waiting to be seen, shown, and heard? In Braver Than I Thought, kids meet the true stories of remarkable people whose scars have been a part of their journey, who have helped them become the world-shakers and game-changers that they are! Kids will find the engaging and high-interest stories of Black Panther's Chadwick Boseman, war veteran and now-senator Tammy Duckworth, and beyond-belief rock climber extraordinaire Aron Ralston, who have all endured intense trauma that led to pronounced scars, but also helped them forge purposeful identities as they came to peace with their bodies. Readers will find that whatever the physical, mental, or emotional challenges that we face, it is not the end of a story, but rather the beginning of a new one"--Provided by publisher

Ages 8-12

Grades 4-6

Author's note : the different scars we bear -- Aron Ralston : trapped under the weight of the world -- Tammy Duckworth : no one left behind -- Naomi Osaka : space to heal -- Jim MacLaren : man or iron giant? -- Chadwick Boseman : a king to the end -- Padma Lakshmi : a model of resilience -- Marie Curie : pioneering until the end -- Alex Zanardi : a need for speed -- Clarissa Ward : a voice for the silenced and unheard -- Curt Flood : making a stand for the diamond -- Tig Notaro : learning to laugh after despair -- Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash : the human calculator -- Bethany Hamilton : not a wave she couldn't ride -- Winter the Dolphin : springing hope for others -- Halle Berry : a battle to sit in the big chair -- Harry Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle : from glass castle to peaceful palaces -- Amanda Beard : winning from within -- Hanifa Nakiryowa : unveiling -- this is me -- Jackie Speier : a voice stronger than bullets -- Harriet Tubman : from fracture to freedom -- Elizabeth Smart : bravery over fear -- Demi Lovato : beyond binary and into bravery -- Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce : standing strong and true for his people -- Giannis Antetokounmpo : a wingspan wide enough for the world -- Selena Gomez : a star that won't dim -- Paul Cardall : a song of healing -- Tiana Mangakahia : driven on and off the court -- Lauren Cantin : a voice that would not be silenced -- Ivan the Gorilla : from the walls of a mall to the freedom of friends -- Queen Latifah : a queen of strength and perseverance