Braced by Alyson Gerber is the touching story of Rachel Brooks and her courage and determination to overcome the challenge of scoliosis. Wearing a back brace and starting 7th grade is a recipe for social and personal scrutiny. She battles through hardships of strained family and peer relationships. Rachel faces this adversity with a tenacious spirit not to let her brace define her.  Gerber paints a heartfelt and realistic picture that can only come from someone who has experienced wearing a brace. Characters are authentic and believable. Gerber captures the emotions and experiences of the typical middle school girl. Once you start this book, you won’t want to put it down. Hand this book to fans of Sharon Draper’s Out of My Mind. Highly recommended.